”Gaaaawww! Looks like Shad was right!? Damn, do you have the power to see into the future or what!? Whelp! Looks like we killed and looted everything we could find. Let’s go back to the transient camp and see what the reward is like.”
Back to the Muffets.
You travel back through the burning wastes back to the ruins where the maftets wait for you.
After you deliver the news of your accomplishments, and a convenient head or other piece of evidence, you're brought back before Erayu.
“You have indeed proven your worth. It takes strength and purpose to survive the Parched Dunes, and I see now that you have both. I thank you, and I will help you in your quest.”
Erayu ruffles his wings and leans forward to tell his story. “We lived for many generations in the shadow of the Sightless Sphinx, guarding and preserving it, though never entering it, for ancient evil lingered within its crumbling walls. But several of our younger kin, led by a rash youth named Userib, decided to explore the Sphinx. Of the dozen who ventured within, only one returned, her face white with fear. She told us that Userib had awakened the evil within the Sphinx and that it had corrupted him and the others. Her words held truth, for before we could initiate a rescue, Userib and his followers attacked. Many of my tribe fell under their assault, leaving us no choice but to abandon the Sphinx.”
A solemn look spreads over Erayu’s face. “I could say that in our weakened condition, and with the children to consider, we could not expect to win the day in an attack on the Sphinx. This would be true. But it is also true that our own kin still reside within the Sphinx. Can they be saved and returned to the pride? I do not know. I cannot imagine facing those we have raised from birth and making the decision to end their lives. You are strong and I believe you are worthy souls. We shall direct you to the Sightless Sphinx. May Sekhmet grant you power in battle, and Thoth give you the wisdom to do what is necessary.”
Zzzzzzzz. Er..wha? Oh yes. Wisdom. I will certainly try to help save your children.
I wonder if this related to the power that corrupted Thorrpe.
arcana
spellcraft
Yes it was the mask, but it sounds as if something similar happened to his kin. I wonder if it is not related is all
Once Dwalindor's ears start to smoke Shad will do a create water to put out the flames
We might have to face facts that Thorrpe might have to be slain if he has been corrupted.
Let’s not jump the gun. We must try. Who knows what we might find, what info there may be. I wil save him.
Shad glaresat Noonen
Shad, the magic does sound similar - it is possible that the Forgotten Pharaoh's spirit is powerful enough that when it was split according to ancient Osiriani tradition that another object has the power to enslave people en masse instead of just its wearer.
”Oh great, so it’s not as simple as just take the mask off or a kiss of true love from a dwarf?”
Well getting kissed by Dwal is certainly something that would make things flee in terror, considering where it has been. Noonan remembers Dwal's trysts with whatsherface.
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So when do we leave? Do we even get to have one night to drink? You guys are running us ragged.
Dwalindor complains but then start packing up his gear.
I ain't kissing nobody...except maybe the waitress who brings me a tankard! So don't go getting all your hopes up in a tizzie. If we can't enjoy some R&R then soon, then lets get moving.
We can have a nap if you insist on being a lazypants.
”I got pretty thumped up. A night of reverlry and some judicious healing and getting spells sounds like a decent time to me.”
”We can head out in the morning right?”
As you travel through the wastes you come to see a massive shape blurred by the heat beating off the sand that becomes a shape.
As you draw close you see a wide avenue leads up to a colossal statue of a seated sphinx. Although the sphinx’s sloped shoulders, powerful leonine body, and clawed limbs were skillfully crafted, its face is an obliterated and jagged mass of stone. The scouring force of erosion seems
absent here; a deliberate rawness has been infused in the degraded face, a tormented, almost malicious devastation that gives the still figure an ominous aura. Huge paving stones might once have formed a path to the statue, but now a carpet of sand blows across the broken slabs. Two rows of smaller sphinx statues, their faces flat and featureless, blindly gaze at each other across the avenue from atop stone pedestals. A ring of heavy stone blocks encircles the large sphinx beyond the avenue, a rough perimeter marred by frequent gaps and missing stones.
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Dwalindor wakes up groggy in the morning, not remembering what all he drank before he finally collapsed, but by the empty tankards and keg, it was plenty.
This better not be a joke...it can't be morning yet, Noonan!
***
Traveling over the desert wastes sobers him enough to gain some clarity and fortunately reduce the throbbing in his head.
Well, they sure like those sphinxes around these parts.
+2 vs stone
He still has problems opening his eyes to the glare apparently.
Noonan looks annoyed at Dwal's bellyaching.
percep
religion
"They say the sphinxes predate the era of the pyramids. When I see these magnificent ruins I wish I could have seen them at their height when our land was ancient, yet still vibrant."
Noonan, from a distance you notice three strong girtablilus patrolling the outside of the Sphinx, warding the wide avenue. Large scorpion-bodied half-men, half-beast monstrous humanoids they appear to be on guard against possible intruders.
Sinister enough it were not for the fact that Sphinx is a massive representation of Areshkagal, the demon lord of greed, portals and riddles.
Got some nasty scorpion centaurs guarding the way. We can try fighting or sneaking
I can use a special blessing to help make them ignore us. No guarantees though
Divine Presence (Su) At 8th level, you can emit a 30-foot aura of divine presence for a number of rounds per day equal to your cleric level. All allies within this aura are treated as if under the effects of a sanctuary spell with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 your cleric level + your Wisdom modifier.DC 20 These rounds do not need to be consecutive. Activating this ability is a standard action. If an ally leaves the area or makes an attack, the effect ends for that ally. If you make an attack, the effect ends for you and your allies.
While it may seem like a poor choice, adventurers were not really known for making good life choices so Noonan cloaks everyone in his Divine Presence.
”Those look like the same creatures as the scout we found dead in the desert being eaten by the undead.”
”We still have his items.”
Shad stays close, after refreshing his protection from the sun spell.
As you move forward two girtablilus rush up to attack, braying warcries.
One of them tries to attack but fails to lob a spear, the other throws his hard at Dwalindor.
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The spear slams into Dwalindor, piercing his armor and drawing a bit of blood.
He turns and glares back at Noonan.
Hey, that did not help me be all sneaky! What else you got?
RAAARRGGGH!
He delays, waiting for any buff spells before he rages and charges forward 10' to swing Amanda at the one that chucked the spear!
for ignore hardness/15
Noonan drops it Well I thought it would help! Noonan shoots a crossbow bolt at G-7
Dwalindor and Noonan's blows hit hard at the monster who reels from the attacks.
SHAD yawns and sends a fireball
Explode in the moddle
”Holy crap guys we could have just tried to talk to them. We’ve been dragging around the dead one’s stuff for weeks.”
Umm.....Looks like I'll have to get the flagellant whip out for this one.
As Tariq thinks back he remembers the decorative golden amulet engraved with a spiraling scorpion's tail, the scorpion tail whip and +1 composite longbow that you found on the slain ghitablilu along with the map that led you into the dunes earlier.