Malik puts out his torch in the face of his companions' superior light-producing items. He continues onward, following the more martial, armored characters.
Andrei walks calmly into the room but eyes the statues cautiously.
"Marvelous," the paladin breathes while gazing upon the tapestry. "That is clearly a depiction of Pharasma's Spire in the Bonelands. The spiral is again a symbol of the Lady of Graves." Andrei holds up his holy symbol for comparison, and smiles. "This is just the sort of relic that the Church would like to study and preserve. You are gracious, Mother of Souls, to bestow such an honor on your lowly knight!"
Andrei pauses and cracks a wry smile. "All the same," he continues, less rapturously, "I should prefer if our trapsmiths examine the room before anything is disturbed. These ancient wards may not distinguish by intent!"
Nodding at Andrei's remark Elneiros presses slowly into the room.
Elneiros takes his time to study over the room. Making sure that it is safe before he moves to check the north and east doors.
Chephren keeps watch at the rear of the group, ensuring not to be caught unaware from behind.
"Yes, Mister Constantine. This one will check for wards as well!" Surubi stalks into the room, watching carefully wherever the light hits. "Mister Darkblade, Mister... Chephren, if you could step just into the room after the lighted areas are confirmed to be safe then this one can check the darkened corners."
Suru is unfamiliar with the priesthood of Anubis beyond any more than knowing it's one of the old Osirion deities.
Elneiros and Suru look amongst the room, walls, doors and even the tapestry, yet find nothing of either a hidden or dangerous nature.
Malik follows along in the middle of the pack, very content to wait while Surubi checks for traps. Since he has no torch to hold at the moment, he takes a moment to draw his crossbow and load a bolt.
After the trapsmiths have cleared the area, Andrei moves to the tapestry and gently takes it from the wall, rolling it for transport with the utmost care and lashing it to his pack with rope.
"After that last battle, this one wishes to avoid any surprises from behind." Surubi beckons the elf to join 'him' at the western door in the new room. "Mister Elneiros, let us make sure this door is locked before anyone opens the northern door?"
Andrei finds the tapestry to be a little more than light work. It is a a large and intricately woven piece of heavy fabric, measuring maybe just shy of ten by ten feet. Even taken down and rolled it weighs close to fifty pounds, and at best can be rolled and then folded once into about a five foot by two foot mass.
In the interest of securing the other door, Suru can easily tell that it is alreayd locked, and if anything they would need to unlock either set of doors before they all can continue onward.
"Ahhh, very good work. Let us continue onward, Mister Andrei and Mister Surubi." Malik smiles pleasantly at his comrades, inwardly anxious to proceed.
While waiting for Andrei to finish rolling and folding the tapestry, Surubi stops moving about the room and makes a suggestion to the group, "Honored g... companions, though the trip has been short, we have covered quite a lot of ground in this tomb already, and found many interesting, expensive..." 'he' looks over toward Andrei struggling to fold the tapestry "And quite heavy artifacts. Now that we have reached a point where all the ways forward are at least locked, perhaps we should take these artifacts up to the top of our ropes above--if we need to evacuate at some point, whether due to a collapse, bad air, or even the defenses of the tomb, we can escape quickly without worry of what we may have left behind. We can even return to the other rooms so that our new companions may see the splendid works that are there." Surubi looks thoughtful a moment, then says "In fact, we found a shield with powerful defensive magics in one of the other rooms, and none of the people there at the time thought they could make use of it. Perhaps Mister Chephren might want it?"
Having finished the 'midway through the tour' speech, Surubi waits a moment or three to hear the others' thoughts.
When 'he' notices a good moment for a quick whisper, Surubi quietly asks Chephren and Malik--one at a time, if they might know any way to remove the mark from Brennan's forehead.
"You are most wise, Master Surubi. Although it will add time to our trek, it is better to plan for such contingencies. Malik concurs and will assist in whatever manner he can."
After a couple of quick questions about how the mark came about, Chephren will inform Surubi that is unknown to Chephren how to remove the mark. If the mark is a true display of a persons soul, then this is a blessing of Anubis and Pharasma, as the person has been give insight on how thier soul may be weighed in the Boneyard. And that a person so blessed, has been given the oppotunity to change how the scales may tip for them on thier death.
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On Going Effects: Strength Damage -4 (-2 Str penalty);
"I have no objection to returning to the surface. The weight of the artifacts so far recovered is indeed considerable. I bear the burden gladly in service to Pharasma, but it may hinder me in a fight and I am loathe to risk damage to such important items."
The two men are clearly both uncertain on what can be done to remove the mark that has infuriated Brennan as it has.
"Yeah, securing the loot might be a good idea, cause we sure aren't going to be very effective at sneaking around carrying all that with us. Shoulda got one of those priests or scholars to get us a bag of holding."
Having spent all his time in the library and unused to such hard physical labor, Malik will tie things up and secure them on the bottom for the stronger party members to pull them up.
Chephren is amazed at the amount of items the others have found already. He begins to catagorize some of the items as they are being bundled and prepared for lifting up the shaft, for either historical, relgious, or even possible monitary values if donated to a museum.
Edit: He will also use his knowledge of haunts and incorporeal entities to ensure nothing is possessing any of the objects.
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On Going Effects: Strength Damage -4 (-2 Str penalty);
"New friends, follow this one to the rooms we have explored and see the treasures we have found! Let us now decide which of them we shall take with us, and which we shall leave in this tomb, striking the right balance between our quest for ancient treasure and our commitment to respect the departed."
Unless interrupted by attacking monsters or bored companions, Surubi narrates almost like a museum guide, trying hard to recall all the religious-historical tidbits that Gustar pointed out.
"... and here we have two stuffed cats - mummified, actually, - a not uncommon Osirian custom, to bury pets with their owners..." "...this marvelous diorama depicts a great battle, probably the most
important one of illustrious Akhentepi's career. What a pity that
Z'ael's vile bile has spoiled some parts of it - we fought a small
battle of our own here - you see these two figurines cleft in twain by
Mister Constantine's mighty sword, and the third one shattered? they
stood up and attacked us, protecting that wonderful scarab shield, no
doubt..." "Oh, and Mister Chephren--this mirror was quite amazing! It had an image of Akhentepi in it! Though, I must say, he seemed quite angry that we were here..."
In the course of the long speech, 'he' will point out all the
various not-yet-picked-up things from the list in the discussion
thread.
At the end of the speech, just as the group reaches the ropes to the exit, Surubi asks, "By the way, what are these 'dark folk' you mentioned attacked your group? This one has not heard much of them before."
Chephren tries to focus on how they would be best served by each of the items and what they may fetch, but there is just too much being presented too fast by a proud and eager Suru. He is able to deduce, however, that many of the parchments and ledgers as well as the golden-paged books, would fetch a decent price from the Grand Mausoleum of Pharasma. After all, it is the largest repository of scholarly works within the city of Wati.
Malik endeavors to do his part as the group starts to slowly relocate the found items. He quickly breaks into a sweat, his breathing becoming labored. He silently thanks the gods he does not have to climb up at this moment.
Chephren casts Detect Magic numerous times as he goes through the items value and potential of caring a haunt or incorporeal entiry with it.
He looks at the hole in the ceiling, knowing he will not attempt the climb again, until they are ready to leave.
Loot:
-2 pitons, hammer, 2 alchemist's fires: found and carried by Malik.
-A wooden chest, lacquered white and trimmed with gold inlay, with a lock and a disabled poisoned-blade trap.
-two history books with thin, gold-plated metal sheets for pages; 25lb each, carried by Andrei.
-three vials of liquid: one CLW potions, one darkvision, third unknown.
-Four gold-plated funerary masks: pharasma, abadar, osiris, and sekhmet(war).
-2 Light wooden shields, one from Akhentepi's army and another from Mwangi
-Magical light steel scarab-shaped shield - see below; carried by Andrei.
-Composite shortbow (string is deteriorated)
-Khopesh
-Spear
-5 Small chests, formerly sealed with wax, containing a three pound sack of coins and several scroll tubes holding papyrus records, private memos, expense ledgers, speeches, and private correspondence.
-A Clay urn, formerly sealed with wax, containig what appears to be a fragrant oil of some sort.
-a faded tapestry and two stuffed cats in room [h-k,19-22].
-tabletop battle diarama: probably not recoverable in its entirety, but some pieces may be worthwhile? In particular, two of the three figurines we fought are evenly split in half rather than shattered, and may be valuable even in this state.
-statues of pharasma and anubis in the room with the magic mirror.
Check: A DC 20 Appraise check determines the value of a common item. If you succeed by 5 or more, you also determine if the item has magic properties, although this success does not grant knowledge of the magic item's abilities. If your fail the check by less than 5, you determine the price of that item to within 20% of its actual value. If you fail this check by 5 or more, the price is wildly inaccurate, subject to GM discretion. Particularly rare or exotic items might increase the DC of this check by 5 or more.
As they move through the rooms, and Suru shows them all that they have found thus far, Chephren goes through gives each item an appraising eye for what it would be worth if removed. Some things he places good prices for, some are worth nothing, and others may not pay enough for the work required to remove them. Despite being told it's magical, he places very little value or worth on the scarab shield, looking to him more like a magically preserved giant scarab carapace.
Chephren realizes he did not look in the 3 pound sack of coins. He look, count out the 150 coins the sack as other items are lifted up to the top of the tomb.
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On Going Effects: Strength Damage -4 (-2 Str penalty);
Malik will also inspect the coins for any distinctive markings or anything else that would make them worth more than their base value.
Taking the time to pick through and evaluate the coins, the group finds one hundred gold, and forty-two pieces of silver. Despite the age of the tomb, the coins don't look like a much different mint than the ones currently in circulation.
"Malik believes we should gather the items and depart to the city, to begin again tomorrow morning." He continues to help ferry things up, one by one, until all the items that have been chosen for liquidation are on the upper level.
After a solid amount of hauling and heavy lifting of goods to set aside in the upper chamber, the group returns to where they left off. They all now stand in the room with the obviously Pharasmin spiral. They are once again faced with the decision of either the northern or western locked door.
Malik returns to the room, breathing heavily from the hard work. Thank goodness for those strong lads who had actually climbed up! Malik dreaded that task, but that was later. "North or west, my friends?"
Chephren thinks about it for a moment... We are in a tomb with devotions to both Anubis and Pharasma... we have a choice of going to the west or the north... the sun sets in the west, as a repsentation of the soul going to it's final rest at the Boneyard... Anubis guides the souls to their judgment at the Boneyard..., "I think we should go through the western doors."
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On Going Effects: Strength Damage -4 (-2 Str penalty);
Malik nods to the priest, setting himself a few feet behind the western door, to allow room for a more martial character to lead the way.
Andrei takes a moment to focus his mind and seek out foul presences beyond either of the portals.
Andrei nods at the cleric's suggestion. "I have no objection to that. When you are ready, worthies." Drawing his sword, Andrei stands by the western door, and opens it when his companions are ready.
"I am ready to press on as well."
Elneiros readies his Mace and assumes a position near the front of the group
"All right, then." Brennan moves to the indicated doors, the very ones he wanted to inspect earlier, and begins to inspect them for traps.
After about a half minute of tinkering with the western door, Brennan has made no progress, the thing remains locked.
A little half-smile of amusement crosses Malik's features, but he is otherwise silent. He could certainly do no better, so he offers no jokes or rebukes. "Master Brennan, can Malik assist you in this task?"
"Sure, you can blow the door down. Or maybe just open a portal in it? No? Maybe cast a silencing spell on yourself and let me concentrate. Suru! Get over here and help me with this lock. The damn thing's jammed."
Malik takes the man's spiteful reproach stoically, only nodding and casting a silencing spell on himself.
Chephren looks at Malik, and just shrugs.
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On Going Effects: Strength Damage -4 (-2 Str penalty);
"Yes Mister Darkblade! This one apologizes for making you wait!" Surubi rushes over to the door and pulls out a pouch of tools. "We can get it open, this one is certain."
"Lets see if I can provide any assistance with this door." Elneiros walks to the door and starts fiddling with the locking mechanism.
After his first attempt was unsuccessful, Brennan called out for assistance, in his own endearing way. Suru comes over to help, and Elneiros decides to see if he can help as well. Brennan should now have all the help he needs to get the door open.
Chephren counts the number of holy symbols of Pharasma inlaid in the floor.
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On Going Effects: Strength Damage -4 (-2 Str penalty);