His soul is where it should be, the rest matters little. I would suggest searching the inside of the sarcophagus for traps before touching the body. Once we determine there are none then we can carefully remove the mask as well as make sure there is nothing else of value. We just need ot be careful with the body.
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"Why not just go to the village cemetery and dig up all the graves for their wedding rings, then," Pherenike grumbles, "and explain to the people's families how their souls are gone so you're totally entitled to take their valuables?"
Pherenike doesn't interfere with the rest of the party robbing the body, but she won't participate, instead keeping watch down the corridor for more vermin.
Mus' ad shrugs his shoulders before checking the body for booby traps. He signals the all clear after a moment.
We carefully remove any items of value before continuing, Kheled taking pains to be careful with the body and treat it respectfully.
Myron helps where he can, sheathing his weapons to have his hands free.
The funerary mask is removed without incident. Nothing else of note or value is found in with the remains.
Mus'ad shrugs as Kheled takes no offence at the liberation of the funerary mask, but after a few moments with furrowed brow asks Pherenike "Could help Mus'ad with this?" seeking to put their combined thews to purpose replacing the lid of the sarcophagus.
If assisted he looks a little sheepish afterwards "Seems silly thought, even after take man's golden face... but not want to leave him for bugs to eat."
Afterwards he stretches out his neck and back and turns to the others - adressing all and none "Seems we have big part of what we come for... risk keep going?, or head back for rest first?"
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"Seems silly thought, even after take man's golden face... but not want to leave him for bugs to eat."
"Aye," she says agreeably, "and if he decides to come after us to take his mask back, at least he'll have the lid to move first."
"Seems we have big part of what we come for... risk keep going?, or head back for rest first?"
"Is it what we came for, Professor?" Pherenike asks Ahkenaten quietly, not quite ready to believe that they could have found what they came to Osirion for so quickly.
The sarcophagus lid is replaced with some effort, coming to rest with a final sound that echoes through the halls of the subterranean tomb...
Myron looks to the still pale Aerathiel.
"There is a good chance there are more items of worth to recover, but we might end up having to pay a very high price for them. I'm in favor of heading back into the city to rest up, and get what we have found so far securely stowed. Then we can always return."
"I have felt better, that much is true," Aerathiel offers with a shrug of his slender shoulders. "I could go on, as I still have not used up my magic. But alas, it is not my resources that worry me, but our resident healer's. Without divine aid or some other way to mend wounds, it may prove too dangerous to continue lest we find ourselves facing something that proves to much for us to face. Consider, after all, the trouble the snake construct gave us."
"Fair enough... lets see if rope still there" and begins walking back towards the entrance, tracing their steps.
"Aye, lets head back into town. I suppose we should report to the Pharasmins or something, then catch some rest. Getting some fresh supplies probably wouldn't be a bad idea."
Kheled nods in agreement.
"Remind me; is our window of opportunity limited in this delve? I seek something other than treasure in this tomb... I am also seeking lore, lore that is dear to me and the Aristedes family. I would be in favor of pressing on... but I see the reluctance here. Very well; provided our window to explore and delve is not limited. Mus'ad, can you perhaps seal the door again, at least in a makeshift manner, to prevent another group taking our tomb."
"If we are putting this to a vote, I would urge to press on. Most of our resources remain untapped, including my own."
"As for those with concerns, do remember that the church of Pharasma has sanctioned this entire enterprise. Their souls have moved on and provided we do not disturb to excess the mortal remains themselves... there is no need to cast admonishments. We are dealing with an ancient culture who believed these material possession denoted status and wealth in the life beyond- a belief that is both dated and metaphysically false."
The elven wizard sighs in resignation. Still, he has to admit, at least to himself, that he is quite interested in seeing what else the tomb is hiding. Perhaps items of arcane power, perhaps long-lost spells.
"As I said, I still have all my magic at my disposal," Aerathiel finally says.
Right then. Where to next? In through the doors we just passed?
The party, convinced to continue, backtracked to the last set of double doors left unopened. Finding them untrapped and unlocked, the group cautiously opened them to reveal a small chamber beyond. From this side, the far wall was revealed to by a set of secret doors. Mus'ad checked them for traps and finding none, set about picking the lock. After a few moments he was successful and opened them as well revealing a large ornately decorated chamber beyond.
The center of this large octagonal room is a raised square platform a few inches above the floor, with a stone pillar at each corner. A gold-trimmed sarcophagus sits in the center of the platform, flanked by two statues of humanoid beings with canine heads, each of which holds an ankh in one of its crossed arms. Stone double doors exit the room to the north and south.
"So....If we just found Akhentepi, who's in there?"
This is a large complex...maybe this is his real tomb or a secondary tomb. Maybe the other body was someone else. This seems an obvious place for a trap though.
As he leads forward Mus'ad mutters under his breath "Jděte ven, jděte na ... nemůže zhojit mysl." but he looks to the room and checks the surrounds for sign of foul device...
As Mus'ad begins his search he notices the floor immediately in front of him, just inside the double doors, is a pressure plate...
Pointing at the spot just at the room's entrance "Plate there... can try to disarm... but might want stand back."
From his limited vantage point, all Mus'ad can determine is that the pressure plate is connected to the doors you just opened. He also surmises that they are connected to something else further into the room but cannot tell exactly what that might be.
Kheled places some magical wisdom on the dwarf before moving back.
I wish I had more insight I could grant you.
Myron takes the trapfinder's warning to heart and pointedly moves back a dozen paces.
Beginning the cumbersome task of removing his armor again with a sigh, Mus'ad carefully stacks it just outside the entrance to the chamber before tinkering with the pressure plate...
Disable Device:
Reflex:
Mus' ad fails to disable the pressure plate and has to leap back as the doors slam shut and lock when he accidently triggers the trap. Grinding noises can be heard from beyond the doors as well as the sound of water. The seal on the door is sufficient to hold back the majority but a small trickle escapes to pool at your feet. After a minute or so the sounds stop and the doors unlock.
Do you want to try that again? Maybe we should tie a rope to you and pull you back if we here the trap start? completing a statement that shows how little he knows about the workings of traps...
Myron suppresses a shudder as the full implications of the triggered trap means.
"If we had been on the other side, we would all have drowned. I think it's very fortunate we found the back way in. I bet this whole chamber is one big decoy meant to lure intruders to their death."
Musing and rubbing the back of his neck as he does so "Better option maybe get big bit of stone, put between doors... set off trap from outside and let water drain away while doors wedge open... but bastard probably have magic make water for trap." before sighing and setting back to his task...
Disable Device (assuming Guidance again):
Opening the doors again reveals the chamber newly wetted, but no sign of the water, apparently having been drained away already. Some of you immediately notice the high water mark on the walls seems to indicate the water never reached deeper than roughly two feet deep, leaving the golden sarcophagus completely untouched by the moisture.
Mus'ad is cautiously optimistic that he has successfully disabled the pressure plate this time...
After standing up Mus'ad considers the forward course of action for a moment before grabbing his armor. Raising it high above his head he brings it down with a clattering thump onto the pressure plate... waiting to see if his physical exertion triggered a response.
If no response was forthcoming, Mus'ad turns his head "Look ok now... let me check room too though." and then moves into the room proper to check it over for traps.
Hold for a moment my friend.
Kheled places another Guidance as well as Resistance on Mus'ad.
After nearly an hour of meticulous, methodical and careful searching, Mus'ad believes that he fully understands the workings of the room. The room flooding trap is triggered by either the pressure plate in front of the west doors or the by the ones he finds on the central platform. A bypass switch is hidden in the torch holder in the southwest corner of the chamber. A pair of secret doors are located on the east wall. The room is drained through a “rubble drain” of loose gravel built around and underneath the room. He suspects the water is introduced via the northern doors. The southern doors are locked.
Kheled whispers a quick prayer to Pharasma before examining the room
and sees nothing of interest.
Before re-garbing his body with armour, Mus'ad turns his attention to the Southern doors...
...and over his shoulder asks "Hidden door there... no trap, open that or try these?"
"Perhaps the secret door? It may be a decoy, but it may also lead to something of importance, valuable enough to hide behind concealed doors," Aerathiel offers.
Starting to tinker with the lock on the southern doors Mus'ad doesn't turn but adds "Go ahead"
Disable Device:
Mus'ad successfully opens the southern doors to reveal additional doors. Continuing on he opens the others to complete the loop to a previously explored room.
The secret doors are also opened revealing a small chamber filled with human-shaped bundles wrapped in linen. Each wears a small medallion around its neck.