DMummy's Mask

Game Master Elmdorprime

Tariq stands and bows.

"As you wish your Excellence."

He turns to the rest of the party and says, "If you would like accompany me this way, there are some wonderful views, distractions and refreshments available. I am Tariq Ibn-Ziyad, at your service."

Tariq studies Thorpe a bit, What is his description?

"I noted your interest in my ankh. It is nice, is it not? It is very old and that is saying something when you are in these lands. I am a Sarenite as you are Noonan. Do all of you greet the dawn?"

Blessings of the dawn to you, Tariq. I am not aware of my fellow's faiths but we are staunch allies who have faced danger together. Noonan settles himself onto a pillow. We have suffered misfortune since an ally of ours was magically compelled by an artifact and transported away, so we seek entry into the archives of Neythis to learn more.

Thorpe's Shadow. Thorrpe is the fellow we are trying to rescue, and my previous character who was always talking to his shadow. Turns out he is real, and from the plane of Shadow. He looks exactly like a young man, with floppy hair and a ready grin. Though he is completely black and appears to be made of Shadow...and he has an awesome hat.

Creperum. Though you can call me Shad, as most do. That is what Thorrpe called me. I certainly do not worship one so closely allied to the sun...that would be...well foolish wouldn't you agree? What brings you here?

Talk amongst yourselves! I'm waiting of Dwalindor to entertain Muminofrah and see if he can persuade her to give you guys access to the Spiral Archive.

Dwalindor grimaces and moves up to the woman with his most diplomatic face and takes a deep breath before starting....

Your worthiness, Muminofrah. I am sure you have heard many fine speeches in your court. I would not know the first thing about fine speeches, or fancy clothes or ... well, other court activities. All I know is me and Noonan and Shad...you know short for Shadowy. Well, we have been trying to help out with the undead problems back in Wati.
We ran into some really messed up people raising the dead against the people of the city. My city. Well, it was going pretty good and all. Well, and we were fightin' some pointy hat wizard like guy. He may have been undead or not. But we killed him. Well, that was all swell and all. But then Thorrpe. You know, our...um...friend. Well, I think he has a problem with leaving things alone sometimes. But he weren't bad or nothing. At least not until, well he goes and picks up the wizard's mask while I was recovering my breath a bit...I mean it was a tough battle. Anyway, before we knows it, Thorrpe puts on the mask and then, well, I ain't sure what happened to him, but he ain't really Thorrpe no more. And we want to get him back. And, well, we hope the answer is in the Spiral library place. So will your highness help us or what?"

He breathes again.

Assuming she is at least indifferent, Dwalindor will ask her for a favor

diplomacy to ask a favor: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. A 4. That is awesome.

Muminofrah listens to you but as you spend less time fawning on her, her eyes start to glaze over. She almost doesn't notice your clumsy attempts at diplomacy she's so bored.

Roll Intelligence, DC 5.

Hah - what did you expect. Dwalindor is not a bard.
He is like the proverbial bull in a china shop here...diplomatically speaking, of course :-)

INT: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Noonan has been occasionally glancing over at Dwal and notices him huffing and puffing as he attempts to charm the courtier.

I have this sinking feeling.

Dwalindor realizes Muminofrah isn't really interested in his tale so much as she is in a new "companion". Flattering her shamelessly and fawning over her own words would work better.

Making goo-goo eyes might help as well.

We might need to take Dwal to have a make-over.

A smile spreads across Tariq's face.

"So, The Keepers of the Ancient Knowledge seek to bar you from the enlightenment their secrets hold. Knowledge is power and they guard it well. No one who lives in the City of Reeds may overrule the headmaster, . . . but then her Excellency Muniofrah arrives, the timing of her visit providing you an opportunity to enter that place for she and only provide you entry. A delicate matter which must be negotiated."

Tariq gestures towards the struggling dwarf.

"Luckily for you, she is not interested in talk, just the stimulation your friend can provide."

Looking at Shad he responds in a warm and friendly manner.

"Due to your magnificent hat I had not looked upon your nature, but I suppose your reasoning is solid, if I were an ant I would not seek to worship the god of anteaters, but Sarenrae is more than a Goddess of the Sun. She teaches temperance and patience in all things. Compassion and peace are her greatest virtues, and if enemies of the faith can be redeemed, they should be. I do not count you as my enemy, but I must admit the only shadows I have ever met in the shifting sands and ruins have tried to cause me harm."

"As to why I am here? My travels led me to the this city. As I rode my camel towards the market to see what wonders lie there, I passed a litter carried by many slaves, a woman of tremendous . . . Influence saw me from under her canopy and desired my . . . presence. Like the princess in the tale of the Hutt of Jabbah I was bid to join her here on her barge."

"Luck for me she has servants to provide, uh, to her physical needs, but her mind is. . . "

Tariq clears his throat.

"Like a desert flower waiting for rain,
like a river-bank thirsting for the touch of pitchers,
like the dawn
longing for light;
and like a house,
like a house in ruins for want of a woman -
the exhausted ones of our times
need a moment to breathe,
need a moment to sleep,
in the arms of peace, in the arms of peace."

"It has been a tale of 1000 Quadrian nights and thus far I have avoided her bed."

Tariq smiled again.

"To be fair it has been a wonderful stay, but your mention of a flying Pharaoh intrigues me, what did you mean by it?"

Shad nods, he extends his hand. As you can see I am far more corporeal than those shadows you have met, and they are really a misnomer, as they are creatures of undeath rather than being from the plane of Shadow

I came into this group late and so only Dwal knows the full story, we did combat a sorcerer who was a follower of this Sky Pharoh. Noonan shows the various notes he retrived from the library.
At the Great Chamber of Knowledge we located a papyrus scroll dating from Osirion's Second Age over 6,000 years ago that references a "lost" pharaoh named Hakotep. The scroll ascribes the epithet "Sky Pharaoh" to the forgotten ruler and recounts his ability to "ride the stars by night". The scroll even contains a crude illustration of the Sky Pharaoh, a figure standing on a dais surrounded by glass and crystal. Noonan points to the relevant figures. The dais and crystals are floating, seemingly part of a vast temple that somehow sits in the night sky.

We also managed to locate an obscure index compiled by a previous curator of the library. This index lists the scroll referencing Hakotep as one of the many that were compiled from the personal library of the Sky Pharaoh. We realized that the collection of scrolls must be held in a part of the library's Inner Sanctum called the Spiral Archive which we were not given access to, and thus came here to petition for access.

Dwalindor is not the swooning type and will leave that to others if she wants a "yes" man.

Very well.

He will get up, bow as respectfully as he can muster and move to retrieve his items.

So skull and shackles then?

LOL - I guess we will see. Maybe Thorrpe is doomed

Noonan will glare at Dwal when he comes back, assuming they aren't all run off the barge. Dwal, Can't you take one for the team here? I'd do it myself, but due to having no cock, I would be less than interesting. We're trying to rescue Thorpe from his own stupidity.

I was expecting to get run off the barge already

Assuming they move out of ear shot of the woman...

I don't know Noonan. This dame ain't interested in helping Thorrpe or our story. And...she wasn't nearly hairy enough for my tastes. But if she was willing, Thorrpe would really owe me...BIG TIME!

With enough booze, any lady or man can be attractive, one of the things I did was make sure enough liquor and hookahs were available so people wouldn't notice bent noses or crooked teeth. I'll certainly owe you.

"And don't worry, if you get there, she's plenty hairy enough."

Tariq swipes his beard with his left hand the claps a hand on the dwarfs shoulder.

"Okay look, just describe her like you would, um . . . a weapon, Yes! Like, um, you were describing the five or however many you were carrying a moment ago. Regail her about the battles you've had up until now. Offer to pick her up in your arms to show her how strong you are, that kind of stuff, okay?!"

Muminofrah is greatly offended that Dwalindor ignored her so flagrantly. She calls a slave over and gives him curt orders.

The guards hustle you off the barge as the haty-a is escorted on. She ignores you as you pass, unwilling to notice you.

Thorrpe will totally owe you

Tariq glances over to Noonan.

"I foresaw your party was going to bring change and excitement, I didn't realize it meant I was going to suddenly become homeless after being cast out by the guards."

Tariq cranes his neck.

Know Nobility: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"And who was that one who just completely ignored us?"

Well Tariq, I don't suppose you have an idea about how to get us the information we need.

The haty-a of Tephu: Deka An-Keret. High priestess of Methys and the one who would not grant us access to the spiral archive. Noonan is still quite upset. I have a miracle that could point us in the direction of the archiveLocate Object and perhaps search my prayers for something that might help but I very much suspect that the archive will be tightly guarded and we're risking getting run out of the entire city. If that happens, Thorppe is lost and this entire quest has failed.

I assure you the AP anticipated - in several ways - that you might offend Muminofrah.

Noonan ponders. Well, we might try courting her again, this time with plenty of bards singing her praises and gifts. Maybe she has something special she fancies we can find and woo her affections back

Shall we commission a statue of a naked Dwalindor?

Works for me, make sure she can see what she is missing.

"I have never seen her before. I wonder if the Muminofrah had her summoned to the barge after your introduction Noonan."

"As far as how to get into the archives, we could try to coach your dwarf friend, or I guess I could try . . . Other than that, any fortress can be stormed, if you are powerful enough, sneaking in would be . . . Quite the challenge."

"I must say you have piqued my interest with this Flying Pharaoh business. I have some royal blood in me myself and I consider myself a bit of an amateur historian, I even speak and write in Ancient Orisani."

"I am currently free of any obligations. Might I offer my assistance?"

Assistance would be very helpful. I believe the hat-ya was informed of her summons while we were meeting with her.

Well Dwalindor is the only original member of the Maze Minders remaining, so it is his call really.

"Oh, I hadn't realized he was leading this outfit."

We need a re-vote.

I think he is doing a fine job, he just doesn't like girls I guess.

Hey, I didn't sign up to lead this outfit. I cannot help that all the other leaders scattered. Anyone of you can take the helm.
We ain't exactly a troop of Andoran boy scouts. Leadership takes skill and desire...maybe more for a group like ours, I don't know.
I just know I am not here to be the talker or brains, just here for the muscle and gold.
I like women fine enough...just not snobby to-good-for-you types.
I'd take the slave girl over that one any day of the week.

Dwalindor crosses his arms with a harrumph.

So how is any of this getting us closer to finding and fixing Thorrpe? Miss stick-up-her-ar$e does not want to help us, fine. So let's find another way.

As a barbarian Dwalindor is not overly concerned with social graces. As much as others PC's have joined or left due to their own backstory, and as Thorrpe donned the mask as something "his character would do", Dwalindor would not play lap-dog for this woman no matter what the prize. But he will do what ever else he can to help return Thorrpe if possible.

We need that woman's help to override the hat-ya and allow us into the spiral archive so we need to flatter her. We can hire bards to sing her praises and get her gifts, no doubt she loves to eat so we can get rare stuff

Now you're talkin, Noonan. She was a plump one, no doubt she is no stranger to sweets.

Okay, let us try to learn if there is anything she wants in particular and hit up any bards of other musicians to get a song about how fantastic her form is.

So searching out info on any food or gifts the envoy wants and trying to find a bard or two.

Diplomacy,Gather Info,Touch of Glory: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"Yes, a gift of some sort. It's going to have to be something her immense---sorry, bad choice of word there---wealth and influence cannot easily bring . . . We may also have to find a way to correct the insult paid to her in her court. Thankfully we weren't fed to the lions . . . this time anyway."

Dwalindor nods in agreement to the plan.

Althought, I'd still take my chances with a lion over her, HAH!

Kind of makes me wish we were fighting rats in a cellar

He frowns Well Tariq, do you know where we can find a Bard?

As it happens you do have a friend in town who knows how to get things...

After several visits to various bazaars you find yourself in a small square dominated with stalls filled to the brim with exotic goods. A profusion of amphorae, rugs, food stuffs, bronze work and glass pieces combine with several small food stalls to overwhelm the senses.

In the middle of that stands your friend, Ibrahim the Grey. An old, wizened man wearing a grey robe belted with plain leather, his sun-darkened skin a contrast to the Chelaxian merchant he's bargaining with.

When he sees you he turns with a bright smile of too-white teeth.

Why hello...there my good friendsss. I had thought that you...would be at the librariesss sssearching for...information to help Thorrpe. What bringsss you to the...Sssmall Market?

As it turns out, Dwalindor is not the Casanova that we thought he was. We may have upset an important lady who wants nothing to do with us, and now we need to win her favor

Indeed, a tragic misunderstanding*cough cough* between Dwal and Her Excellency Muminofrah of Sothis, a woman of great..stature who we very much need the aid of. We seek gifts of food and song to woo her back. A bard to sing her praises and rare foods she might never have tasted. Maybe a groomer for Dwal so he can give a somewhat honest apology.

Hah! Fat chance on that! She should apologize to us!

The dwarf bristles at the idea of apologizing to her.

So Ibrahim, do you have any ideas of where to find the goods?

Muminofrah of Sssothisss isss...no ssstranger to food from all...I've heard. If you want to flatter her however a...traditional, ssshall we sssay, gift could be sssomething asss sssimple asss a flagrant flasssk of...oil?

He smiles at the thought of Dwalindor presenting a flask of scented oil to Muminofrah.

Yesss, that might work. Or if you prefer a less sssuggestive gift, white frankincense...might work for you. However you are sssubject to the...whimsss of nobility. Trussst me when I tell you that...you can never predict them.

Now his eyes take on the gleam of avarice you remember from Wati.

How...much...did you want to ssspend?

Noonan huddles with his group to discuss finances.
I have about 1222 gold to kick in for gifts, the frankincense sounds goo.

I think as little as we can, we will trust your judgement here Ibrahim. he says pointedly

Tariq studies the merchant.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Linguistics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"Thank you for the suggestions. Your accent, I can't quite place it, you were not born here in the City of Reeds were you?"