Katapesh was a dusty nation on it's best days, and today was not the best. A harsh wind blew off the Obari Ocean, bringing along with it the desert sands in a constant, irritating stream. Even the high walls the surround the Temple Graveyard can't prevent it.
The Entrance to Zhen's Tomb is in a small orchard, young trees blowing in the wind but cutting down the dust once more. A pond serving as a source of water for the plants sits at the entrance. The Tomb itself is a heavy granite building, it's stone polished and shined but otherwise plain. The great slabs of stone are cut to such perfection that the building requires no mortar, and not so much as sheet of a paper can be pushed between them.
Standing guard at the entrance are two novices of Sarenrae, young initiates of the Temple still in the early days of their training to Paladinhood, and a familiar figure. Wrapped in robes and with only one arm, you recognize the metallic glint of his skin - Redemption.
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For a moment, Ayreth forgets herself and growls at the metal figure that was once their enemy, eyes and claws flashing. She takes a moment to recover her composure before greeting him. "Hello, Redemption, uh, sorry 'bout that. Would we be right in thinking that your presence here is not a coincidence?"
"It is not a problem," the Ironborn replied. "Our last meeting was less than pleasant for anyone." The Oracle nodded his head after a moment. "Yes. My skillset means I am useful for such searches. I am a dedicated of Sarenrae. And I am familiar with the creature that infested me. Since this is suspected to be something he may have, in some way, been involved in I was asked to come."
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Ayreth claps her fist to her chest in salute. "Then I am glad for your presence. Have you found anything yet?" Ayreth, without consciously thinking, reaches for Selena's hand because of the emotion brought on by standing at the entrance to Zhen's tomb. I know he's gone, but still... I just can't believe.... He was so... Her thoughts trail off.
Selena squeezes Ayreth's hand in return, looking at the great granite tomb.
"Happy to have you helping us, Redemption." Selena smiles "You think that body-hopping bastard has to do with this, too?"
Redemption shook his head. "Once we knew you were coming, it was decided to wait so no more contamination of the scene occurs. As for the Devil...perhaps. He has had his finger in a lot of pies, as it is said. This smells like the kind of thing he might have done."
Heading inside, there is a stairwell heading down, lit by everburning torches. The walls are covered in pictures and scenes in the style of Osirion, depicting scenes from his life as an adventurer, leading down through his life.
"There were no guards, since it is built within the temple grounds, but the Tomb itself comes with certain defenses. They had been destroyed or disabled. It was Master Guthook who found the Tomb had been violated when he arrived to pay his respects before a trip." Redemption paused to look at the scenes on the walls before continuing down.
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Ayreth also looks at the scenes, mostly in a wistful, nostalgic way. "It's a beautiful tribute, in its own way." Some of the scenes she points out to Selena followed by a "Remember when Grampa Zhen told this one?" or a "Did you ever wonder if this one was all true?" She keeps her eye out for two particular scenes. The first is the day that she met him, wondering if that is chronicled here. The second is the last scene, curious as to how the story ends, at least as depicted here. Will it be Zhen on his last adventure, him on his deathbed, or something else?
"Certain defenses?" Selena asks, following Redemption and Ayreth into the tomb.
"Oh, as a kid I never even thought he would lie to me!" Selena laughs with Ayreth as they walk trough Zhen's tomb. "Grampa really did a lot of stuff in his life, eh?" the succubus smiles melancholic, looking at the tales of his grandfather's life.
"Traps of various kinds," Redemption replied. "One of his friends is both a spellcaster and trapsmith of some skill. I believe he created a number of devices that existed in different times and places but were decidedly lethal here and now."
At the bottom of the stairs the scenes reach a more modern time. Pictures of Zhen and his family as he aged were present, along with the tales of his romantic partners. Zhen had several lovers through his long life, and outlived them. There resting place was also down here.
A total of four sarcophagi sit in the centre of the chamber. Three remain sealed, runes placed along the edge still present. On top of three of them equipment sits, undisturbed by the dust.
The fourth tomb is cracked, the granite shattered, the items atop gone. The four are surrounded by a glass like material on three side, with the fourth destroyed.
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"He sure did," Ayreth agrees with Selena before what Redemption said sinks in. "Wait, different times and places?" She whistles in wonderment.
The lover pictographs grab her attention. "One of them is your grandmother, and one is mine," she says in a hushed tone. Ayreth, pauses, looking up into the air, her eyes unfocused. She seems to be listening for someone to say something, but Thark is noticeably silent.
Ayeth shrugs, knowing that waiting will accomplish nothing and continues to follow Redemption down. At the bottom, upon seeing the tombs, she whistles again. "Someone really wanted in there, and in a hurry, I'm guessing. Let's make sure they didn't leave any nasty surprises for us."
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The only traps you can find are the ones Redemption mentioned. They flicker oddly, making them difficult to notice, and your eye refuses to focus on them. You do notice two interesting details - that the glass like material is very certainly not glass, and that it may have been broken from the inside.
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"Most of the gl... wait, no, not glass. What is this stuff?" Ayreth picks up a small piece, holding it up to the light. "But most of it is on the outside. As if someone broke out, not in! You don't think... there are wards against necromancy, aren't there?!" She directs the question at Redemption. "Especially after the incident at the temple?," she tries to phrase it gently despite her stress.
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"I hope that wasn't the case..." Selena bites her lip at Ayreth's question "Maybe they teleported in there and then broke out?"
"The Tomb is blessed against Necromantic effects," Redemption replied, "And I believe the substance is know as Glassteel."
Ayreth picks up the faint remnants of Conjuration magic.
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"But a temple isn't likely to be protected against conjuration magic. There is still a faint trace of it in the air. Most magic of that type that I'm aware of is either healing or summoning magic. Perhaps something was summoned inside in order to break out. Any ideas on why that might be their tactic?"
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Glassteel is effectively a clear material as hard as steel. It's rare, but is used to make weapons or armour. The sheets made here were thin, but was probably several thousand gold pieces worth of material.
Redemption adds, "Conjuration is also used for Teleportation effects. And to bind certain otherworld creatures to a caster's will."
"Possibly? Divintion is one of my skills, but I am not very familiar with tracking someone using such magic." Redemption tilted his head to one side. "I can try, however."
"Hhhmmm..." Selena crouches to the ground to examine the shards of glass and the area around the sarcophagus.
I'm not really good with this magic stuff, but maybe I can find something else.
"I am not sure," Redemption pulled out a deck of Harrow cards and then looked at his other arm. Or rather, the missing stump. "Ah. Yes. Perhaps a hand with my cards? I really must get that healed."
Selena spotted after a thorough search a small splatter of blood. Above it is a small trap of some kind, a dart launcher by the look of it. The blood is long dried, but too fresh to have come from one of the Tombs inhabitants.
"Shuffle the cards, while focusing on any powers of Divination or Prophecy you may have. Then blindly draw three." Redemption chuckled. "I should be able to read them beyond that."
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"Umm, sure. I can do that, I think.... never really used these before... is this right?," Ayreth asks. Finally, she starts to get the hang of it. As she shuffles, she closes her eyes, thinking about Zhen and when she met him. She thinks about how he helped her afterwards, teaching her and doing what he could for her after she opened herself up to the other side. Tears flow from her closed eyes, not just out of grief for the grandfather she lost, but also from joy in the times spent together. In her mind, she entwines her emotion with the power inside of her and eventually stops shuffling. Ayreth puts the deck down and deals three cards from the top. When she opens her eyes, they look glazed over.
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Redemption kneels, watching as each card is drawn. "The Tyrant. An obedience and twisting of the law to one's own benefit, a ruler that has harmed those they rule." The next card is drawn. "The Rakasha. One under the influence of another, forced to bend to their dark will." The last card is dealt, drawing an odd noise from Redemption. The Vision? I am not sure what that woul...Ayreth? Ayreth?"
Ayreth's eyes went blank as her consciousness flew on dreamlike wings, soaring through the time around them. She saw...
Zhen's tomb, undisturbed, his armour arranged like a sleeping knight with sword and shield lying atop it. Frost, fire, ice and acid flowed along the blade in a gentle pattern.
She saw...
A figure, cloaked and shadowed. A raised symbol. A five pointed star painted blood red, cold black flames burning across its surface. A chant in Infernal, compelling aid. The tomb cracks and the figure recoils, crying out. This was not what was expected. This was not what they had planned. The tomb explodes, dust and stone flying into the air. The greatsword launches out, shattering the glass in a flash of magical power.
She saw...
The figure, hacking in the cloud of his own creation. He waves the symbol again, a spell to teleport away. Out of the dust a hand reached, and took the blade.
She saw...
The city, Khalharum. Magic pulsing through the city, like blood through veins, but so much of it was dark, lifeless, cold. And above...something else.
She saw...
A room. Two figures. Arman, the man who had helped against the Shadow Collector. And...another, familiar...
"Well," Arman said with a smile, "It appears my abode has another guest."
Selena quietly waits for Ayreth to start the divination, but grows increasingly nervous as her sister cries and then her eyes go blank.
"Sis? Sis!" Selena asks, a bit panicked, before turning to Redemption "Is this normal?"
"No, not for me, but my abilities are different." Redemption examined her eyes, felt her pulse and muttered a spell before stepping back for a moment. "Well, I am not sure...but I think she is experiencing a vision of some kind. I believe the magic imbued in my cards, combined with some innate power she possesses, triggered such. See, her eyes flickering and moving, seeing things we cannot? Her heart beats at a normal, is slightly high, rate and her breathing is not problematic, so I believe she should be allowed to finish."
Redemption looked over at Selena. "Does she have these visions often?"
"Well, yes, but not for this long, usually. " Selena tilts her head, biting her lip "But if you say there's no danger and we should wait out, let's do that."
I only managed to find out whoever got in here can bleed, big deal. Damn it, if there's no one to beat up I'm completely useless!
Redemption eased Ayreth's form to the floor, in case she was disorientated on her return. "If it goes on too long, I would try to wake her, but for now I don't think she is any danger. But perhaps there is more to be found in this place. Shall we look?"
"Yes, let's." Selena nods. "I really don't know where to start, tough. The only thing I've noticed is this drop of blood here." the half-succubus points to the blood on the trap near the sarcophagus.
"Too fresh to be from a corpse," Redemption noted. "I believe there are spells which allow you to find out more about a person from their blood, if we can safely transfer a sample. I suppose we could chip up the stone..."
"Yeah, let's take a sample and find someone to-Sis?" Selena springs up, running to Ayreth and crouching next to her. "Is everything okay? Are you hurt?"
"Moments only, perhaps a couple of minutes." Redemption knelt beside the young woman. "Visited Aibek? Did you see them in a vision?"
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"Nooo...." Ayreth gently shakes her head. "I mean I had a vision, but then I was pulled into the Dream world where I met with Aibek and... and we talked for a lot longer than a few minutes. Oh, but the vision...," Ayreth quickly changes the subject. "It came in three parts." Ayreth describes the vision. "I don't think the caster was able to take Zhen's body. I'm not sure what happened, but I think he left on his own."
"Interesting. There were likely traps on the sarcophagus likely had its own defenses, and perhaps the coffin inside. Perhaps the thieves didn't take all of them into account." Redemption nodded slowly.
"So Grampa may have just...got out by himself and left?" Selena asks puzzled. "But if he's...still himself, and picked up his weapons and armor, why didn't he search for Grimrod, or us, or anyone else if he had something to do?"
"Still, if his form was risen without being bound to the will of whoever tried to take it, then it has very likely caused them problems. Potentially, that is something we can find and use. It is much harder to ward something against scrying if it isn't cooperating or staying in the same place." Redemption nodded. "It will be worth suggesting scrying random once a day."
"Oh, no, I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant to mention it to Grimrod's people. He has people hunting leads on who to, well, hit with an axe."
Redemption considered. "Your gifts of sight mean we have a clearer idea of what happened. Selena discovering the blood rules out any number of creatures, and could possibly be used to find out more about the person attempting to steal the corpse. All told, it has been fruitful."
"Yeah, let's hope that this will be enough to find out what happened and who did this." Selena nods.
Standing up right with a creaking noise, Redemption looked around. "Do you wish to look around any more, or are you done here?"