Tariq starts making calculations about what the spirit is saying.
”I think I follow you on how to bring the pyramid down, but, um, who are the Shorey again?”
You realize he's talking about some sort of magical array but the triggers could be anything. But since you're talking to the dead he will answer limited questions since his attention wanders easily without a physical medium to translate his knowledge.
"Has it been so long that our greatest enemies lie forgotten? The Shory cities once ranged across our southern borders, floating above our border posts and raiding as they saw fit, secure in the knowledge that we could not rise to meet them."
"Hakotep may have been mad but his idea was brillantly simple: to pull them to earth should they dare to assault us. Grounded they would have been no match for the slave-legions."
No doubt a ritual or implements to use with the device.
"Before any of the Sekrepheres can be activated, you must rouse the Khepsutanem from its slumber, for after so long a time, the magic that empowers it has certainly gone dormant. The source of the Sekrepheres’ power is found within a complex on the northern side of the earthworks called the Tekramenet."
"Once you’ve awakened the Khepsutanem, you must seek out the Chamber of the Sekrepheres within a second complex on the eastern reaches of the trenches, the Sekrephrenet. From there, it is a simple matter of anointing the Sekrephere symbols in the proper order with holy or unholy water.”
“Each of the Sekrepheres is associated with one of the gods of Osirion whose teachings, in one way or another, influenced Hakotep’s work at the Khepsutanem. They must be activated in the following order: Horus, Ptah, Isis, Ra, Khepri, Osiris, Sobek, Maat, Sekhmet, Thoth, and finally Set. Once you’ve activated all eleven in this order, the Sun Disk can be used to call down Hakotep’s pyramid.”
Noonan makes sure to make notes easy enough for Dwal to follow. With pictures!
”Man, that sounds worse than a Rod of Seven Parts! Well shoot. I guess we had better start moving. Um, where are these places he is talking about Noonan, do we know where those complexes are?”
Noonan ponders
Ibrahim looks at you and smiles.
"You're getting ahead of yourselves! I told you to head back to Wati, didn't I? I can see great trouble headed that way soon."
Very well, Back to Wati. Thank you for your aid, your Eminence.
You leave the Sphinx and set out back across the desert, shaken by your meeting with either an incredibly powerful lunatic or the father of Osirion, one of the oldest nations standing on Golarion.
Days pass into weeks as you travel south to the Crook to catch a barge upriver back towards the Half-Dead City. Around the river wide irrigation makes the desert soil bloom into lush farmlands tended by peasants and the occasional trader tries to hawk fruit and meat once he sees your rough-hewn but powerful equipment and wealth.
The bargemaster is pleasant but wary of the four of you as you travel but grows quiet in terror as he sees an unknown pyramid on the horizon.
Soon you travel nearer and see the sky beneath the pyramid and the ground. You look closer and you see specks hovering around the pyramid and a terrible voice splits open your skull.
"BRING ME THE MAZE MINDERS! THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOUR PHARAOH AND MUST BE SACRIFICED! REFUSE AND I SHALL BURN THIS CITY TO ASH AND LET MY SERVANTS FLAY THE SURVIVORS TO BONE! I, ISATEMKHEBET, HAVE SPOKEN IN THE NAME OF HAKOTEP THE UNDYING!"
Er.. I really think we should hurry to these slave trenches. Like real quick now
You spy a symbol on the pyramid, an immense cartouche of a five-pointed sun - you presume, of the general Isatemkhebet.
A sphere of energy glows from its apex but you see an obvious entrance even at this distance beneath the cartouche - an arch that leads inside.
If you wish to confront the general who demands your lives you need only to enter the pyramid to squash him.
Want to have fun storming the castle?
I'll need to do some prayer to get the proper spells ready
<<<Sigh>>> “Still no winged camels or flying carpets in my bag of holding. I hope you have a magical spell you can request for this scenario Noonan.”
Noonan shuffles around in circles while muttering and swinging an incense burner. Rassafrassansupercalfragalico.. Ok I am ready. Noonan waves his hands and people turn into smokey versions of themselves so they can fly up.
Don't dwaddle, people. We gotta kick more undead butt
”l’m! Oh my gosh! Look at this! Ha! Ha!”
The desert rake does a flip!
” When there's a smile in your heart
There's no better time to start
Think of all the joy you'll find
When you leave the world behind
And bid your cares goodbye!”
He zips about!
”You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!”
”There it is, Dwali, second star to the right
And straight on 'til morning. We’ll reach Neverland yet!”
Look at me, way up high, there in the sky I am flyyyinnggggg!"
A dark opening yawns at the pyramid’s base, providing access to a long tunnel heading deep into the tomb.
Noonan casts Magic Circle against Evil on Dwal. Forwards to our glorious deaths!
Noonan follows behind.
As soon as you enter voices echo throughout the hallway, bouncing far into the open sky behind you.
Sound moves differently in the tunnel - your footsteps are minimized but air rushes around and through the hallway, designed to give you the feeling of being small and unimportant compared to the grandeur of the tomb and its occupant.
"“Cast aside weapon and tool, armor and cloth, that you may stand before General Isatemkhebet in true humility!”
“Cast aside weapon and tool, armor and cloth, that you may stand before General Isatemkhebet in true humility!” Noonan says. I think I will spare everyone the sight of my naked old man body
”Oh my gosh can you imagine seeing Noonan’s old saggy sack!? I mean, just the thought of that . . . It’s like “the beholder must make an immediate saving throw VS Gaze Attack or be permanently blinded, or save and only be struck dumbfounded and confused, sickened and adopt the stricken condition for 1d4+1 rounds”.
”Hey maybe we could weaponize that!? Like we have a password for Noonan to suddenly disrobe. That would be like Power Word Stun, but without needing to give up a spell slot.”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Saving throw? Rounds?What are you talking about? Here I was supposed to be the senile one.
From the length of the tunnel comes the same voices, sharper this time and angrier.
"Those who refuse the hospitality of Isatemkhebet shall face the wrath of the Voices of the Sun!"
From the depths of the pyramid two skeletal figures, mummified wings flapping hard as they come near you.
The mummies fly forward, propelled by the necromantic memory of their wings, swinging khopeshs as they come.
Noonan Blesses the group(+1 Hit/Save vs. Fear
Dwalindor swings wildly to try and hit the monsters as Noonan sends Sarenrae's blessing shining forth on his companions.
While the sudden rush is too much to allow Dwalindor to connect he erupts in furious power and slams his earthbreaker three times into the undead creature attacking him - it reels from the blows but remains active.
The ancient hook shaped sword skitters across the desert rogue’s armor but fails to part his flesh.
”Phew! That was close. When I heard the Ancient Orisani, I thought it was just Noonan talking making a translation, not mummified skeletal flying guardians!”
He whips out his blades.
”Who the hell are the Voices of the Sun anyway!? Another freaking cult? Don’t we have enough ancient dogmas with secret cults already!?”
”Oh! Ha ha!”
”Hey look Dwali! These guys have been dying to get in, heh heh, get it?!”
”And where was the hospitality? I didn’t see any salami plate, crackers or cheese assortment.”
Of Tariq's swings only one thing connects, probably because he was too busy telling jokes to fight properly.
The undead winged mummy shrieks in indignation but is largely unaffected.