Thanks Noonan. That was some unpleasantness. Feeling much better now, my friend.
Shad will also look.
She looks like just your type, Dwalindor. Maybe a former queen or marquis' wife?
This little jaunt has been a non starter.
The name of the figure eludes you but now that the vapors have vacated the room you are able to continue your journey.
Tariq rolls his eyes at the dwarf.
Baset. Come. Let us see where fate leads our path now.
They scout ahead in the most likely direction.
Noonan follows.
How are you getting out of the pit?
Noonan flaps his little winged boots. Hey, couldn't we have skipped the boatdudes with them?
Tariq shrugs and calls to Baset
”Come. “
To Dwalindor
”Follow us. We have a long ways to travel before you can rest for ale. “
We could go back with the teleport spell I have(Word of Recall) and get it adjusted to make ale
A solid, crystalline pyramid of deep blue sapphire hovers a few inches above where the ice would have been had it not been melted by the fire elemental.
Noonan examines the crystal with Detect Magic
Noonan, your expert examination (from a distance) tells you unlike the previous emerald pyramid this pyramid appears to be a clever trap - you can see the spell formations of a freezing sphere spell laid in the pyramid designed to trigger if the pyramid is touched by directly targetted by a spell or physically interacted with. The spell is incredibly powerful, leading you to be glad you at least didn't try to examine it directly.
Tariq looks at Noonan's reaction to the pyramid.
So what do you suppose it does? Do we need to utilize or activate it?
Tariq will also examine from a distance for anything else special.
There is a powerful freezing sphere trap on the pyramid. If Tariq disarms it, we others best retreat some
Tariq scowls at the dwarf. He takes out his tools and cracks his knuckles.
Not to worry my skeptical bearded friend.
The pyramid's trap is disarmed by Tariq carefully altering the glyphs on it's surface with his tools. As he makes the last minute change, he puts his tools away and raps his knuckle on the suddenly no longer glowing or trapped sapphire.
It's huge, easily enough to allow you to purchase a small kingdom if anyone would be willing to trade for it - or if the Ruby Prince would let you take such a valuable, and large, antiquity out of the country.
Well the trap is undone, so now we have to figure out what to do with it.
Noonan, you can tell that unlike the emerald pyramid this pyramid appears to be a decoy meant to kill anyone foolish enough to tamper with it.
Looks like this was just a decoy. We dodged getting smited by the trap.
”Undoubtedly. So shall we wait for the dwarf to fill his pockets or search the real pyramid? “
”I am certain you have already planned out the number of kegs you will spend it upon haven’t you Dwalindor?“
Perhaps it would be best to wait until we deal with Hakkkoothep. Noonan coughs as phlegm catches in his throat.
Yes, that would be sound advice, especially coming from our wise holy man. Dwalindor will have to wait a while longer before he indulges in his sea of ale. Let's go.
You return back to the ferries and the silent creatures take you towards the east. They turn north and leave you at a landing - a painting on the floor before you depicts a regal figure rowing a reed boat. A deep, crystal-clear pool fills the chamber beyond. At the bottom of the pool, a red mosaic shows a woman carrying a clay vessel on her head. A statue of red stone, mirroring the figure in the submerged mosaic, stands on a platform against the room’s western wall. Four smaller pools lie in corner alcoves. The ceiling is domed and painted in shades of blue.
Tariq should look around to see if there are magical traps. Noonan uses Detect Magic on the pool
Tariq nods at the holy man
”I will see what I can find. “
As Tariq examines the area around the new pool, he loooks closer and sees the red stone statue depicts an elven woman in classic Osirian garb, wearing a golden pectoral necklace adorned with beads of jade and lapis lazuli. The statue’s right hand grips a khepresh, the traditional Osirian “war crown,” made of gold, jade, and ivory, with a jade crocodile head adorning the crown in place of the traditional hooded cobra. An ivory
cartouche with the name Nailah carved in its surface rests in the statue’s left hand.
He does not detect any traps in the room, although he does see bodies of mummified women lying in the bottom of the pools in the alcoves.
The hand's grip on the khepresh is tight - it would have to be destroyed or magic would have to be used to alter the statue to allow the war crown to be retrieved.
Shad raises an eyebrow at the statue of the woman and crown.
Any ideas who she, if she is 'Nailah' and what disposition she had in llfe?
He will also cast detect magic from a wand and scan crown, statue and the rooms other art.
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Dwalindor whistles as the sight of the crown.
Yep, that there is a pretty bauble. Would be a shame to leave it here and be stolen by tomb raiders or goblins.
He points to the pools and women/mummies within.
Noonan, what about them...are they with her or what? I don't want them to jump on me from their pools when we pass...you know, cuz it makes Tariq all jealous and the like.
Noonan squints and eyeballs the mummies.
There's a faint aura of transmutation around the crown and an aura of necromancy from the statue itself.
The identity remains a mystery to you Noonan.
Tariq nudges Noonan aside
”Noonan, do not strain yourself. You sit down and I will take a try. “