Mus'ad works mostly in silence, bar the occasional sub-vocal muttering, as the valuables are gathered and brought from their resting place towards the chute which they first descended through. He doesn't seek to personally claim any of the items - content to see them piled with the rest of their takings.
In answer to Myron, Mus'ad shrugs "We find a way..." as he checks to see if their lowered rope is still sound. If it is he looks to ascend first and secure the top of the tomb before seeing the others and their loot rescued from the depths.
The rope is still in place and securely fastened, allowing Mus'ad to make his ascent. Topside, Mus'ad finds everything as you left it a few hours earlier, save for the increased heat entering from the outside.
Kheled struggles to get back up the rope and out. I could use a good bath and a quiet drink.
Should we gety the goods to the Grand Mausoleum and get our next assignment before resting the night?
Aftet a moderate amount of effort, all of you, along with all of your finds make it to the surface. It is a couple hours past midday and the sun blazes high in the sky. The heat is quite oppresive. Seeming even moreso since spending the first half of the day deep underground. Securing your gains, you make ready to move out.
Pulling the rope back up from the depths Mus'ad weighs the passage of the sun and ventures "We leave chariot... best get out before sun go down. If all we want is pillage tomb... better get new place and have bigger pickings anyway." and seeks to prepare to move out.
Aerathiel is very quiet and obviously in some pain as the group prepares to depart the tomb. Although he makes an effort to hide his discomfort, it is obvious that he is troubled, and not just physically.
Myron keeps a sharp lookout as the group gathers their findings and prepare to head out.
"Lets get out of the necropolis and into the city. We had better keep alert, I wouldn't put it past some of the other teams to try and ambush us to snatch our hard earned treasure."
The group makes a purposeful and careful push to reach the gate they used to enter the Necropolis, reaching it safely and in good time.
The sun sits high in the sky and the heat is quite oppressive. A loud knock is answered by the large gates being opened to allow the party to step through. The guards on the other side give you a respectful nod, but say nothing.
From the gate it is a pretty straight shot to the Golden Lake, Sunburst Market and the The Grand Mausoleum. Approaching the massive front stairs, an acolyte recognizes you and waives you over. All returning groups are to report to Sabu. I will show you to him.
The young priest in training leads you inside the massive and impressive temple, and to a side chamber near the front. A polite knock is made before entering and then the group is ushered in to see a middle aged man sat behind a simple desk. He looks up from his papyrus scroll and rings a small bell. A few more acolytes enter from a side door.
The tanned man, sporting a shaved head and simple grey robes with a spiral pattern over the heart stands to greet you. Welcome back Delvers! He does a quick head count before continuing, I trust you were successful? I do hope you have much to report! Please sit. I am Sabu and I will be your liaison from this point forward. You are report back to me when finished your assignment, and I will be the one handing out new assignments as well.
Looking over the tired and dirty group Sabu remarks, Weni, refreshments for them please.
The acolyte who met you outside, retreats thru one of the side doors and returns with a platter of fruit and figs, along with a large pitcher of ice cold water. Placing the platter before the group, he joins the other acolytes at a side table. They all take up quills, ready to record your findings.
The perceptive among you notice three piles of documents already neatly arranged upon a side shelf. It seems you are the fourth group to return.
Sabu sits and gestures kindly in your direction, Please! Enjoy! And when you are ready I would love to hear what you have discovered!
Mus'ad looks at the pile of documents, then back at the priest, then at the documents, then at the priest, then turns to Aristedes and raises an eyebrow.
Sabu sees the look upon Mus' ad's face and quips, Some of the other groups have provided us with insight into their delves. Maps. Rubbings. Sketches. Very helpful indeed.
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Pherenike gives the priest a hard glare, prejudice settling into a hard certainty that she wants nothing to do with either the smug Pharasmite or their brown-nosing competitors. "We brought out some useless old things and smashed more of them," she says, gesturing to the pile of bric-a-brac they hauled in. "You want to know what they are, you dig through it." She gets to her feet, obviously considering the interview over.
Myron eagerly snatches up a couple of fresh figs, and munches on them with great enjoyment before washing them down with a glass of the cool water.
Refreshed, he wipes his hands on his trousers and pulls his journal out of his satchel.
"Sketches, you say? Actually, I did manage to find time to scratch down a few, along with an assortment of notes. It's mostly regarding the various traps and secret doors we found, mind you. I defer to the more educated members of our group when it comes to the historical and cultural significance of our finds, and I'm woefully ignorant about the religious aspects, but I do have a bit of previous knowledge about the structural design of these ancient tombs. I've studied the exploits of the renowned pathfinder Chandira Al-Besir to great extent, and she writes at length about these things. Now, where did I..."
Myron leafs through his mostly blank journal, looking for the quickly scrawled sketches he made inside the tomb.
"Ah, yes! Here it is. You see, we encountered a number of traps, and more than a few concealed doors and passageways. Some of the traps were fairly mundane. Dart traps, wooden spikes, booby-trapped chests, that sort of thing. But the one we encountered in the main chamber of the tomb was unique, as far as I am aware. The entire chamber was one big decoy, with a living sarcophagus posing as the resting place of Akhentepi. And on top of that, the entire chamber was somehow rigged to seal intruders in and drown them as the chamber flooded with water, most likely diverted in from the nearby river. Quite an extraordinary feat of engineering."
Myron pauses, then pulls his writing implements out of his pack.
"I'm rambling a bit, I'm sure. I'm just excited to witness these things I've previously only read about. If you give me a couple of minutes, I'll make a copy of the mechanisms while the rest of our group give the full report."
With that, he begins furiously scribbling on a blank page.
The Professor had been quite busy making his own notes throughout the sojourn and had seemed quite distracted until Pherenike's outburst snapped him out of it. Not wanting to address it publicly, he said nothing but the quip to Mus'ad at his group's expense did have him raise his eyebrows, and his temper, somewhat.
He immediately addressed the official in Ancient Osiriani, caring not whether the man actually had the scholarly background to speak or understand it.
די אַלגעמיינע אַכענטעפּי איז אַ פיל באַרימט פיגור מיט אַ ווייַט גרעסער סטאַטוס ווי אַ מענטש פון זיין ריי וואָלט פֿאָרשלאָגן. זיין ביאגראפיע איז דיטיילד אין איין לעדזשער מיר געפונען און איך האָבן געמאכט דיטיילד נאָטעס- אין אוראלט אָסיריאַני פון קורס, ווי צו ניט פאַרלירן די ונטערטעניק פון די ענין אין איבערזעצונג.
The General Akhentepi was a much renowned figure with a far greater status than a man of his rank would suggest. His biography is detailed in one ledger we found and I have made detailed notes- in Ancient Osiriani of course, as to not lose the subject of the matter in translation. Anubis and many other Old Gods were heavily featured in his tomb.
The Professor then goes on into excruciating detail, clearly demonstrating his grasp of the ancient tongue and shifting subject likes the very sands of this land; obviously attempting to put the scribes in their place and lose them in minutiae.
If it becomes obvious that the audience can not speak or understand Ancient Osiriani, Aristedes switches back to Taldane in a condescending manner. His extremely detailed notes, he eventually hands over with reluctance, with the understanding that a copy will be produced for his own use.
Kheled will attempt to fill in any remaining blanks, but otherwise keeps to himself.
Sabu, who had been entirely cheerful, friendly, sincere and genuinely excited to see the party, and to learn what they had discovered within the Necropolis, stopped what he was doing to stare coldly at Pherenike. Resting his elbows upon the table and holding his hands clasped together in front of his face, he sat motionless for a moment before addressing the belligerent young woman. Sit down. His tone was anything but friendly now.
Are you confessing to willfully destroying antiquities and or vandalizing or desecrating a tomb within the Necropolis? The very same items you were charged with retrieving and the structures you were to explore?
You were present at the opening ceremony. Surely you realize a gross violation of the rules such as this can result in, but is not limited to, expulsion from the necropolis, a ban on continued exploration, seizure of recovered valuables, and arrest and prosecution by local authorities. For everyone present.
The scribes sit rigid, some with mouths agape, as they await the group's response.
The priest's rage flows over Mus'ad like a wave around an outcrop of rock, leaving no trace. In level and even voice he replies "Mirror try burn hole in head, had to smash. Little figure try stab us, had to break. Had to jam few trap... keep trying to shoot us. Man had fake tomb... tomb try kill us - that one still moving if you want go see it... had to spike room so could not get out and kill us."
Pointing at the notes he so carefully stacked "If others say different... they lying. If want you come with us next time that fine, you can see for self... Mus'ad even let you walk first." with no overt aggression but clearly and distinctly drawing a line in the sand between those willing to sit behind paper and judge another and those who had to walk through the sand and face the tombs.
One of the acolytes blurts out in defense of the priest. Sabu has braved the Necropolis many times! He has made many forays and discovered many things! And has done so without the security of a whole team unlike yourselves!
Sabu cuts the young man off. Enough. Let the dwarf think what he wishes. It is of no consequence.
Turning to Mus'ad, Sabu asks directly, What issue do you have with the other teams reports? Who would be lying? Did you encounter another team within the Necropolis?
Shrugging "If Sabu has been into Necropolis, Sabu doesn't need answer." deigning to let the priest figure out the meaning for himself, as it was plain as day to Mus'ad.
Kheled steps in to try and quell the issue before it really starts,
Everything has been treated as it should under Pharasma's will. The bodies were treated properly and the only thing we had to destroy were some guardians who attacked us and we defended ourselves.
You have my word as a fellow Pharasmin that no descration did or will happen. I think this is just a misunderstanding.
The crypt was quite amazing though. The size and sheer presence of it would have kept you busy for several weeks.
He goes on to describe several of the more interesting rooms, hoping to distract Sabu from their negative start and get them back on track.
Attempting to maintain an aura of calm and nonchalance, the Professor calmly met Sabu's gaze and accepted the reprimand; portraying himself as wanting to move past a misunderstanding and attempting to support Kheled's words of reassurance.
"I think our guide Mus'ad simply means that if the other groups reported no damage, this seems unlikely based on our own experience. Perhaps the tombs the others were assigned were fortunate enough to not contain such an abundance of traps and constructs. Pherenike speaks of the destruction of old things; she surely refers to the ancient mechanical entities that defended the tomb. It is no mere understatement to state that these entities almost slew our party entirely; and tensions are rather high as a result. Not a single body was desecrated; and I echo my colleague Kheled's assurances. He is as devout a Pharasmite as any I have met and had such a desecration taken place, he would not still be contracted to our company".
"Sabu, you might recall I am an Osirioniologist from a respected university in Taldor, with family links that date back to this great land. Perhaps you would grant any fellow members of my company who are tired from the delve, leave to retire from the debriefing session, should they so chose? I would not with to bore anyone with a long rambling lecture... i'm afraid its a small sin my job role often called for over the years".
Sabu listens to Kheled and Ahkenaten as they attempt to steer the conversation back into friendly waters, alleviating Sabu's concerns and assuring him of the group's actions and intentions.
I accept your word Kheled Hadri as well as your explanation and assurances Professor Ahkenaten. Your request is granted. Forays into the Necropolis can be most taxing upon oneself. Any who wish to leave may do so with my blessing.
Now please, I do truly wish to hear what you have uncovered within the Necropolis.
Sabu sat and listened with rapt attention, as those of the party so inclined, recounted and shared their discoveries from within the Tomb of Akhentepi. The scribes recorded all that they heard and made copies of anything made available to them. The liberal use of magic was employed to facilitate and speed up the process.
After the debriefing ended, Sabu made inquiries as to your intentions with regards to the items you had recovered, offering to arrange for the purchase of anything you wish to part with.
He also then mentioned that your new assignment would be ready later this afternoon, after all the other groups had had a chance to report in.
A few hours later, Sabu bids the Delvers good day and the party steps out of the church and back into the late afternoon heat. The stalls and tents of the Sunburst Market beckon from just across the enormous man made pool, the "Golden Lake". The gurgling in your stomachs, the weight of your acquired treasures and the jingle of coins in your possession combine to create a significant desire...
Glad that is over. I plan on a bath, food, and rest...after we sell the items.
Who here is good at haggling? I have a fair hand at it but am by no means a professional.
Myron's face takes on a wishful expression as Kheled mentions bathing, food and rest.
"I'm inclined to take Sabu up on his offer of handling the sales. I think I can hear a comfortable chair over at the Tooth and Hookah calling my name, and it would be terribly rude to keep it waiting longer than absolutely necessary."
Content now that the paperwork had been dispensed, Mus'ad considered the market... but shook his head Best wait until get all the gold first and moved to follow on the way to the inn.
As the group moves back towards the Tooth and Hookah, Myron falls into step besides Pherenike.
After a little while, he looks up at her and asks "Are you all right? You seemed a bit on edge back there."
Mus'ad grunts and mumbles "Probably think Pharasma man bit touched in head... like Mus'ad"
Myron looks at Mus'ad.
"Really? How so? I mean, he seemed perfectly friendly to me, offering us refreshments and asking how we had performed in the assignment we were given. But then again, I'm not from around here. Desna knows, in Cheliax you can easily insult someone half a dozen times without ever opening your mouth, if you don't know what to look out for. I'm a stranger to the customs of Osirion and Taldor, and to the ways of the Pahmet. Is that it? If so, could you tell me what it was? I wouldn't want to give offense without even knowing it," the halfling chatters on in a friendly tone.
"Why he happy we just tore apart tomb and took everything?
Why he want us say what we found... why not take book we found? Not let us sell?
If so worry why not they send man with us to watch and make sure do thing right.
Man who make life follow Pharasma shouldn't be happy at what we did... shouldn't be happy after hearing what others did too..."
Myron's face takes on a puzzled expression.
"But....we did exactly what we were supposed to do. We explored the tomb and brought back objects of historical value. And we found quite a lot of interesting things. That's the whole reason they had the lottery in the first place, and the reason why the professor hired us all.
The only things we destroyed were the constructs that attacked us, and the secret door. So I don't understand why he wouldn't be happy. Do you really think that what we just did was wrong?
Kheled joins in on their conversation, It depends upon the priest and their purview. Some might take offense but most wouldn't care.
Pharasma wants the dead to come before her...she doesn't care for their earthly possessions they might have had before they died. The priests are interested in how people lived and died though. The history of both if often quite a prize. he says with an eagerness in his voice.
As long as we continue to treat the bodies and burial places with respect we will be fine and the church will continue to award us places to explore.
Think of the gems...and the gold...and even the magic we may find! This talk has made me thirsty...and my leg aches, lets go sit in a nice shaded tavern.
Mus'ad grunts "Just because he say it okay does not make right. We just dug up grave and rob bodies... Mus'ad not give much of care for tomb of old dead man... but if was where my ancestor was buried... Mus'ad would swear blood debt and wage war to set right." spitting to the side into the sand.
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"Aye," Pherenike nods cheerfully, "if the church of Aroden invited a bunch of sweaty foreigners in to dig up a cemetery in Oppara for gold teeth and wedding rings, I could put together a volunteer defense force quick enough, priests be damned. It's not their family." She turns her attention back to Myron's original question. "Didn't like his tone. Reminded me of school and professors talking down their noses at me. He's not my superior, and I don't have to take it from him. Besides, I'm sure we did smash the most valuable things in the tomb. I'd rather have one of those clockwork soldiers than all that pile of old rugs and things."
Myron looks perplexed.
"I hadn't considered it that way. To me, this is a chance to experience adventure and uncover ancient secrets, like the Pathfinders write about in their chronicles. And this whole thing is sanctioned by both the ruler of this land and by the church. But if you both feel that way, why are you here? It was pretty clear what we will be expected to do?"
Nudging his chin towards the Professor "Man offer job, Mus'ad do job. Not every horseman happy shovel sh1t in stable, but still job sign up for."
Myron nods thoughtfully. "I can certainly relate to doing a job you are not overly fond of doing. I was born a slave, and spent most of my life living in a house where you either followed orders or took a beating - often both. So now that I am free, I choose my own fate and pick the jobs I want to do. You are obviously a skilled tracker and guide. Certainly you could easily find other work that you found more agreeable?" he says to Mus'ad, before turning back to Pherenike.
"Well, those clockwork soldiers didn't exactly seem inclined to sit still and let themselves be carried out, nor did the metal snake or the fake sarcophagus. And once we were done with them, they were nothing but a pile of junk. You certainly helped making sure of that. Your fighting skills are spectacular. You learned to fight that way back in Taldor, right?"
"And regardless of what you thought of Sabu's tone, it's my experience that its often best to bite your tongue and keep your thought to yourself. I've got a few scars on my back to help me remember THAT lesson. If we don't keep him happy, we won't get any more assignments, and then the professor can't find whatever it is he's looking for. You are very devoted to him, that much is obvious. I assume that's why you are part of this, even though you don't particularly like it either."
Mus'ad grunts "Just because he say it okay does not make right. We just dug up grave and rob bodies... Mus'ad not give much of care for tomb of old dead man... but if was where my ancestor was buried... Mus'ad would swear blood debt and wage war to set right." spitting to the side into the sand.
Yes but I imagine Dwarves have the sense not to bury their dead with all of their valuables...never understood it myself. Its not like it is going to do you any good where we all end up.
Kheled shrugs at their discussion, As you say, its a means to an end. These jobs will provide us with funds...when you have enough you can do as you wish.
For me this is what I enjoy. Re-discovering old things...with the new information about the general it will be like we are bringing him back to life.
Before we came and re-discovered his legacy he was dead and forgotten other than a few dusty rumors. Most of these people have been forgotten except for their names and some old stories.
I am not saying your point of view doesn't have merit, just that there is a way to honor those who tombs we are searching.
"And regardless of what you thought of Sabu's tone, it's my experience that its often best to bite your tongue and keep your thought to yourself"
From the look that Mus'ad gives Myron it looks like he takes the halfling's advice to heart... instead just delivering a withering look and spitting a gobbet of phlegm onto the ground.
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For me this is what I enjoy. Re-discovering old things...with the new information about the general it will be like we are bringing him back to life.
Before we came and re-discovered his legacy he was dead and forgotten other than a few dusty rumors. Most of these people have been forgotten except for their names and some old stories.
I am not saying your point of view doesn't have merit, just that there is a way to honor those who tombs we are searching.
She shrugs, having no interest in Osirian history, either recent or ancient. "He's still just a name to me ... except that I couldn't tell you his name. General So-and-So with his toy soldiers. As far as I'm concerned, the whole morning was a waste of time." As Myron refers to the Professor's personal quest, she immediately clams up and puts some distance between herself and the inquiring halfling, shooting a glance in Ahkenaten's direction.
Sensing that neither Mus'ad or Pherenike are interested in further talk, and that both Professor Aristedes and Aerathiel seem lost in their own thoughts, Myron turns to Kheled for further conversation.
"Are you a native of Wati, Kheled? I'd love to know more about the town."
Not a native Myron, but I have lived here for the last number of years.
Kheled goes into the general features of the town but you find out that he knows suprisingly little of the town other than the major features. It appears that he spent much of his time in the church growing up and not wandering much around the town.
Aristedes had held his tongue for quite some time after the meeting, seeking to not lash out or let hostility creep into his voice. From a young age he had learnt the value of time spent before speaking, in order for a tone of voice not to betray true feeling. At the same young age, he had also concluded that criticism rarely achieved anything; or truly persuaded anyone. The older man waited for an opportune moment to address everybody at once in the relaxed atmosphere of the tavern.
We should focus on our successes today. We successfully delved an ancient tomb and overcame its traps and guardians. Each and every one of you was instrumental to our success and I only wish my own contribution to the endeavor had not felt so small by comparison. You all have my heartfelt thanks.
The Professor put on his best kind smile, usually reserved for under-performing students or when seeking funding grants.
I was fortunate enough to witness each of you showcasing your expertise, as in most instances I was a mere observer. As you may have overheard, Pherenike and myself have an ulterior motive for exploring these tombs beyond wealth and prestige. It is, however, a personal matter and I would appreciate it if you would not pry, for now. Rest assured, it is a benign mission related to my family and is strictly an internal, Taldan matter.
He laid his hands out flat on the table, palms down in a conciliatory manner.
To achieve our goal; and to continue to function as the Osirion and Pharasma-sanctioned Delvers, however, we must earn and retain the good graces of the powers that have permitted us to raid these tombs. Obviously we have stumbled into a tense situation and some internal politics; and there is fault in my part for not properly inferring how serious a matter keeping our benefactors satisfied is. If you are unhappy with the assignments or indeed, the manner in which we conduct them, I beg that you keep it an internal matter between us all. Your "contracts" to me are truly only a formality to register us as a group. We are all equals here and we all partners in this endeavor. It would warm an old man's heart to keep things as pleasant and fair as possible. In the spirit of such, allow me to purchase our first round of drinks- what would everyone like?
Elven Wine, from Kyonin preferably... he grins letting the professor know he is being silly
A cool white wine would be nice though.
"Shāy bil n'anā" referencing a strong and sweet tisane made with dried green tea leaves and fresh mint.
Well spoken, and a mighty fine gesture with the drinks. I'll have some cool Chelish white wine. I used to serve it all the time back home, and I'll savor every drop as I toast to the health of my kin still in bondage and wish my former masters a quick departure to the hell they worship. You should try some too, Kheled. Not much good comes from Cheliax, but fortunately the devil-worshiping does not seem to have rubbed off on the wine. Myron says with a grin as wide as his face.