Dien's Entombed with the Pharaohs (Inactive)

Game Master dien

Javi would welcome it. :)

Javi's eyes are drawn back to the point he last saw the scorpion a few times, but he seems happy with Heldar's company. He shrugs at the suggestion, smiling, "Sure. I mean, eating trail grub on a cloth is still just trail grub." He looks up at Heldar, his smile brightening, "Then again, wine is wine. And I'm sure it's not poisoned. And aren't you some kind of spell-maker? Can't you just wave some fingers and make it clean?"

Either way, he seems eager to open the drink. "Either way, how can we know how much to sell it for if we don't really know is value?"

The team is awoken to Javi wrestling with the cork. He looks at the group, who all seem to still be wiping sleep from their eyes. "If anyone's got a problem with this, it was totally Heldar's idea." He gives the oracle a wink.

Rosalia tries to ignore those forcing her to get out of her bedding, at least until Rook takes things into his own paws and becomes a living alarm clock, pawing and licking and biting at her face until she can stand it no more.

Oh, cats. You gotta love 'em.

Begrudgingly sitting up with a yawn, Rosalia follows the wine opening activities with narrowed eyes. "Not to say I'm not curious, but... drinking when your first wake up sounds like alcoholism to me."

"On the other hand," she mutters to herself, sniffing at her armpit with a grimace, "maybe getting myself pissed would let me forget how long it's been since I've been able to have a bath..."

Heldar smiles at Javi's comment and looks expectantly at the group, in anticipation of their reactions - truth be told, they had met only recently, but the man always felt at his best doing for others - he could not tell if it was an altruistic or selfish attitude, and did not dwell on it, simply 'going with his flow'

"Well..." - he reacts to Rosalia's comment - "If you would had told me a month ago that I would be dashing across the desert, in search of some ages lost tomb, apparently surrounded with dreadful stories, where the simple trip could be enough to kill us, I would have called it 'crazy and askew' but then again... Here we are, and I must say it has been one of my best experiences so far" - the man raises his glass in a toast to the woman, and their companions - "To unlikely friends" - he adds - " That is all of you"

"As I've said to you before, Heldar," Rosalia mutters, accepting a cup of wine and almost immediately emptying it, "you are way, way too happy to be stuck out in the stinking heat in the middle of nowhere."

"Hmm. This isn't bad," she notes. And, to the toast, she somewhat reluctantly clinks her cup against Heldar's. "Yeah. I guess."

"How could I be anything but happy Rosalia? You know me. This is it!" - the man simply beams as the woman empties the glass - "Did you really expect to find such as our most expedient Javi, surprising Shaggar or mysterious Lyrian halfway across the world? I did not, and rejoice at the fact that I was wrong"

Rosalia considers that for a moment, her head cocked. "No, I certainly didn't think I'd be on the run from the law with a thief and a tomb-robber and a gnoll," she comments dryly, but there's a hint of a smile being forcefully swallowed at the corner of her lips.

"Not to say I'm not curious, but... drinking when your first wake up sounds like alcoholism to me.”

”To be fair," the halfling interjects with a grin, "it is dinner time.” Otherwise, he grins at the interplay between the two pathfinders, content to fade into the background for once.

Rosalia considers that for a moment, her head cocked. "No, I certainly didn't think I'd be on the run from the law with a thief and a tomb-robber and a gnoll," she comments dryly, but there's a hint of a smile being forcefully swallowed at the corner of her lips.

Shaggar tries the wine, though it isn't his type of drink. He shivers like a dog as the tannins cause his tongue to spang against his palette. "Sayyidah, it could be worse. You could be traveling among pathfinders... the ruination of many fine reputations."

"Javi," says Lyrian with a grin, "You're a thief -and- a tomb robber?"

"What can I say?" Javi says, rolling with the turn of conversation, "I'm a halfling of many talents. Though to be honest, I've never actually been in that many tombs."

He cuts his eyes at Shaggar, "Not drink much wine in the pack?"

Rosalia actually laughs quite openly at Shaggar's quip... a side-effect of the wine, no doubt.

"As far as the Society goes," she remarks bemusedly, "you'd be hard-pressed to find people who aren't thieves, tomb-robbers, or monsters... so don't worry; you'll fit in just fine."

The wine is very good: none the worse for having sat in a cellar for who knows how many years. In fact, it seems to have aged it splendidly. Perhaps it's just the harshness of your surroundings, but it tastes as good as any you could imagine receiving in some soft, perfumed palace of a pharaoh. To your health!

Breakfast, alas, is no match for your beverages: the same dried meat and dried fruit that you had twenty-four hours ago, except the bread is a little staler and the cheese a little harder.

The camels are watered and fed. As the sun sinks towards the horizon, they are nudged once more to their feet by the little band of travelers.

The shadows lengthen as the group sets out, the last rays of sunlight sending your own elongated shadows ahead of you on the sand. East-by-northeast, the distant horizon is still swallowed in a dark wall of swirling sandstorm. There is still the occasional flash of lightning across its face, as the day before, continuing to mark it out as something more than merely nature at work, but rather instead the titanic struggle of elementals. But it is many, many miles distant, and your path leads south of it anyway.

The moon rises over the distant storm-wall a good hour past the time you would normally expect to see it. It is fat and full and red-gold... though the latter is likely just an illusion created by all the dust in the sky that the storm has kicked up.

Ride, ride, ride. Those unused to camels are finding their muscles have finally acclimated, after so much time in the saddle. Or maybe their asses have just gone completely numb. One of the two.

Nothing disturbs you all the way until you stop for 'lunch', at around midnight. You keep the river always to your right, and never too far away, but you are avoiding travel directly on the road that runs parallel to it, and so you are also avoiding the other travelers. Occasionally you see the distant torchlight of a group's passage, or, even further, lights of a barge twinkling on the river, but the moon is so bright you need no such lights yourself.

"Shaggar," Rosalia turns to the gnoll during their midnight snack, frankly looking for any excuse to avoid eating more of the salty hard tack and steadily hardening bread. "How far do we have to go, do you think?"

(Shaggar will be able to tell y'all that you are in the middle of your your third 'day' (even if it's night) of five planned days of travel.)

The gnoll whuffles the air and scans the dark horizon. "Perhaps two days more, Sayyidah, if our luck holds. Then, we'll see if any pursuit has beat us to the temple."

Rosalia groans loudly and flomps back onto the sand, roughly ripping off a hunk of bread and watching the stars as she chews. "I might actually die from boredom," she grunts exasperatedly. "Or heat. Can you die of heat? I think that's what I'm dying from."

The gnoll's red eyes glint in the darkness with a trace of amusement. "The heat isn't killing you, yet. And how could you be bored in all of this?" He waves a claw to indicate the vast, interminable, seemingly endless, relentless ocean of undulating sand. "You need a hobby... may I suggest the dance of the seven veils." He says with feigned innocence, and looks to the men in the group, "All in favor?" He raises a claw to encourage their 'vote'.

Too bad I didn't go the dervish dance route!

"Dance of the... what?" Rosalia sits up again, genuinely confused, but she quickly clues in upon seeing the no-doubt universal group of snickers, bemused smirks, or faux-innocent smiles. That, of course, is met with a dark scowl.

"The only 'seven veils' I'm aware of are prismatic ones. The red one burns, the orange one corrodes, the yellow one electrocutes... all the way up to the violet one destroying everything. Surely that's not what you meant, now, is it?" She returns any innocent smiles...

Shaggar sits up, scrupulously overlooks Rosalia's tone, and tucks his bisht beneath his knees warming to the subject. His words are earnest, almost reverent, "The Dance of the Seven Veils is misunderstood by outlanders. It is not a prurient or lustful thing. Yes, it involves a woman wearing only seven thin layers of cloth which she strips away as she dances, but this is not its purpose. It is a dance only truly danced once - by a woman of consummate skill at a turning point in her life. She dances to the rhythm of the universe, finding her place in it. Each veil symbolizes and is a layer of... of illusion - about herself or the world - that she casts aside. Each veil gone brings her one step closer to self-realisation... to an understanding of who she truly is and what the world is. It is a moment of synchronicity with the universe when a woman, like a desert flower, comes into the full bloom of self-knowledge. And the very best dancers convey some of that knowledge to those who watch this ultimate expression of self-identity. The Dance of the Seven Veils is said to be a profound and life-altering experience for the dancer and the audience..." The gnoll lapses into silence briefly, "... or it's an excuse to watch a pretty woman disrobe."

Lyrian watches this exchange with one of those faux-innocent smiles, masking his expression by draining a mug of wine.

"You must admire a willingness to die in one so young," he says, conversationally.

Rosalia frowns, her eyes still quite wary (particularly with Lyrian's commentary) but cognisant of Shaggar's reverent tone. She can't quite decide whether he's being serious or not, legitimately having no idea about these strange southern customs; she wouldn't want to criticise what sounded like a potentially liberating and honestly quite spiritual event...

In the end, she decides to simply stick to more personal derision. Much easier and less morally ambiguous that way.

"Certainly surprising that you'd want to see me do that, Shaggar," Rosalia responds snidely. "You're going to break the heart of that poor camel over there." She roughly points with her thumb at the 'pretty' camel that Shaggar had been riding.

The gnoll yips a laugh, "Yes, among my clan I was called He-who-makes-camels-jealous - an important title." Shaggar pulls at his ear, somewhat uncomfortable. "Sayyidah, I'm sure among your people, you are comely but hmm... your people are not attractive to my eyes. No offence." He gives her a snarl-smile, "But my purpose was to save you from death by boredom. I have done that, yes? And woke up these sleepy men who would laze away our time of travel with wine."

Sorry for the overall slowness on my end, guys. Travel sequences with no encounters are tricky for me in a PBP: I don't want to just jump you guys from night to night with no chance for the in-character interactions that would happen in those big time blocks, but I don't want to bog you guys down in too much pure social RP since I know that's not the most thrilling thing for everyone, either. :P You may always feel free to stick in retcon moments if I rush you out of a scene before you are ready. But I'm enjoying the social RP you guys are doing!

With the small keg half-depleted, and the reminder of He-who-makes-camels-jealous that night's time is fleeting, everyone gets back into the saddle once more, sliding into their buddy system. Javi settles in for more of the camel's rocking gait to fall asleep by.

The stars are endless and vast overhead, making slow rotations in constellations little-known to the northerners of the group. The camels plod along in their tedious-but-effective pace, long knobby legs eating up the miles. Boredom leads to the telling of jokes and stories, 'swapping lies' as they say, and tales of creatures faced and survived. Quiet words on the night air.

Shaggar's guidance is either preternaturally good, or the route he's chosen is just plain lucky. Dawn comes again with no threats on the horizon.

Shaggar Kn Nature/Geo: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 2 = 28

This time, He-who-makes-camels-jealous is able to find an actual cave amid the rock spires that rise to the party's left-- it's not terribly deep, but it will provide actual shade all through the day, the coolness of rock that never sees the sun. After the glare of the sun beating down the last two days on endless bright sand, it's a welcome shelter against the day's heat.

Javi is woken up again, and stretches and yawns his way around. Heldar, keeping your colleague company again for some of the watch?

The camel thing made me snort Diet Coke. Points to Rosalia!

Given that I've been struggling to post the last day or so (work, sick kiddos at home), let's just say Javi missed those conversations due to sleeping. :)

Javi slides off the camel, bouncing himself awake as he looks at the cave. "Shade?!" Javi says with a mix of real and comical excitement. "Shaggar, you spoil us."

He helps in his usual manner with the camel's saddle and kit (which is to say he stays out of the way while making faces at the camel when he's forced to get near it), and helps Shaggar prep the area for thier sleep.

As the group settles in, he reaches up to give Heldar a friendly pat on the thigh, "So, you draw watch with me again? Who knows, maybe we'll see something fun."

Javi slides off the camel, bouncing himself awake as he looks at the cave. "Shade?!" Javi says with a mix of real and comical excitement. "Shaggar, you spoil us."

The camel-lothario pats the cool stone appreciatively. He gives Javi a toothy look in what the thief has come to believe is a grin and says suavely (well, as suavely as he can muster), "I'm all about pleasing the ladies." His eyes slide over to the dusty, flea-ridden, and foam-mouthed camels at the further end of the cave - indicating to which 'ladies' he is referring.

bucka-bucka-wow-WOW

As the group settles in, he reaches up to give Heldar a friendly pat on the thigh, "So, you draw watch with me again? Who knows, maybe we'll see something fun."

"Always my friend - life is too interesting to sleep it away" - the man smiles - "You know... When I first came across this magical ring, I was pleasantly surprised by its possibilities, but there was one that shined through only after I had, and used it for some time - staying awake" - he nods as if remembering something - "You see... Even while we are asleep, there are a myriad of things happening all around us - I do not enjoy the long life of an elf, or an immortal soul like that of an aasimar - I am a mere mortal, and I suspect that even if our days would be twice as long, and we never slept, there would still be millions of worthwile experiences left untried" - he stares around at the desert - "So I opt to miss out on as few as I can, and I won't be forgetting about this trip anytime soon"

Looking again at the halfling, he is still smiling - "I trailed off for a moment there, didn't I? Bottom line is - yes, I will be keeping watch with you Javi" - he finishes.

Javi and Heldar settle in for the watch, trading stories and swapping lies. The cool of the morning begins to warm up, building towards the truly uncomfortable heat of mid-day-- none of which bothers you all, as you are lying in the relatively blissful comfort of a cave, out of direct sunlight!

Although it does beg the question of whether your watchmen are doing the same. Are Heldar and Javi choosing to watch from inside the cave mouth-- thus reducing their field of vision somewhat-- or going to sit outside in the full heat for better visibility purposes?

(And, if outside, is Heldar wearing his armor?)

Heldar will be fighting in the shade ;)

After all, I am sure Shaggar would find it offensive if we did not make the best of the pleasant cave he has found for us :D

Staying in the mouth of the cave, behind some visual cover (to hide) if possible.

Lyrian, after a blissful few minutes of relatively cool shade, sighs and gets up, making a slow circuit of the cave, looking for any hidden dangers (or fabulous hidden treasures.)

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Lyrian: it is a cave. It is not a terribly large cave. It's perhaps twenty feet from the entrance to the 'back', and perhaps fifteen feet across, so really, 'cave' is a kind word. More of a room-sized niche in the rock.

To the best of your inspection, it contains no secret doors, fabulous treasures, blood-sucking vermin, or ghosts.

There are some very old bones loosely heaped in a corner, probably animal bones (they certainly don't look human). Many are cracked open and bear claw marks. They look as if they have lain here several years, and are half-covered with sand that has drifted into the cave.

Cave Entrance, more or less

There's some scraggly scrub to provide Javi the sort-of-cover he seeks. It's an uphill walk to the cave's mouth, so you should have a fairly nice view of the terrain leading up to the cave from there.

There is not enough room for three camels and yourselves in the cave without it being suuuper-tight. You can tether them outside, though-- one of them is already nuzzling in an interested fashion at a clump of desert shrub.

With the cave not looking to be inhabited by anything, the group, except for Heldar and Javi, settle in to sleep (I presume). Better hope Javi doesn't have a sharpie to draw on your faces... but then, he hasn't done that the other two days, so you're probably safe.

Yep, Shaggar and Hatyah settle in.

Cool cave image.

Lyrian settles back, with an effort banishes thoughts of the "dance of seven veils" and goes to sleep.

DAmmit! A sharpie! I knew Javi forgot something. :)

Javi settles back, with an effort cultivates detailed thoughts of the "dance of seven veils" and watches the desert.

Rosalia settles back, wondering why she feels like she should be memorising some kind of mind-reading spell and a lot of fireballs...

The sleepers settle in. Javi and Heldar keep their voices low so as not to disturb them. The last cool of morning fades away before the onslaught of building heat.

Shaggar sings I Will Survive: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 = 29 ...clearly that's reflected by his finding you all a cave. And somehow he rigs up some shelters for the camels too.

Camels. #1, 11 am. dc 15: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 4 = 18
Camels. #2, 11 am. dc 15: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 4 = 24
Camels. #2, 11 am. dc 15: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 4 = 25

Your camels are quite comfortable in the heat, even though they are not enjoying the shade of the cave. Even though it's still probably very warm by the standards of the northerners of the group, after the last few days of trying to sleep through mid-day heat, the relative cool of the cave feels utterly blissful, and you slip more easily into sleep than you have in a few days.

Javi Per: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Heldar Per: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Shortly before the sun reaches true zenith, first Heldar, and then Javi, notice something moving off over the sands, a dark something that seems to ripple in a disconcerting fashion over the dunes towards you? It takes a few seconds of staring, but then you realize the reason for why the motion seems so odd: it's not something moving on the sand, it's a shadow, cast by something overhead.

Thief and oracle both look up-- there is a bird of some sort-- no, something not-quite-bird-- descending the hot desert drafts of air in a beeline for your location. After squinting up into the white-hot hammered desert sky, eyes narrowed to slits against the glare of the sun, you see something like this. Neither of you recognize the creature.

It is definitely coming your way-- you probably have thirty seconds before it would be overhead.

You can see that much from inside the cave. Do you wish to step outside the cave for a better look?

New map up, hit the link at the top. I put you where I thought you might be based on descriptions, but feel free to move yourselves around inside the cave if you'd prefer a different sleeping arrangement.

To explain the map if it's not self-explanatory: the redder terrain is open sand. You may move east/right on it with no penalties, are you are moving downhill, or north/south with no problems. If you move west/left, it counts as difficult terrain because of the steepness.

The more yellow-stuff is the big rock formation you are currently taking shelter in. The rock is very eroded (and thus fairly easy to climb, if you wished) and has several different elevations in play, color-coded for your convenience.

The bird-shape is not currently visible on the map, it's still several hundred feet away (600, if you want to be precise).

sorry for the absence yesterday… busy day.

Javi looks up at Heldar’s nudge, then squints as he follows the pathfinder’s pointed finger. ”What is that thing?” His eyes widen in alarm, “How BIG is that thing?”

He watches it for a few more seconds, shading his eyes, then he shakes his head. “I don’t like this. It’s coming right at us. Keep your eyes on it.” he says as he hops up and dashes deeper into the cave, doing his best to make use of cover where possible.

He begins waking the team, beginning with the team’s survival expert, and recruiting him to help rouse the rest of the team. When they’re all awake, he points in the direction of the huge bird thing.

“In the sky. Some kind of massive bird thing headed straight for us.”

Once the team is roused, he makes his way back to his scouting perch, giving the team members a chance to catch sight of the creature before he whispers, “So what is it? And is it a threat?”

Stealth: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28

Snapping awake, the gnoll moves quickly. He looks to the sky trying to assess the threat, "I doubt it saw you. Likely, it comes for the camels. This is going to be a tight fit." Shaggar lopes out to the camels, slashes the branches they are tethered to, and herds them into the back of the cave as quickly as possible.

Knowledge: Nature 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 = 23 in Deserts
Handle Animal 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"Ah," Javi responds, giving the camels a considering look. "would it really be that bad?" His tone indicates he, at least, wouldn't mourn the loss of the uncomfortable, smelly, only-slightly-threatening-sized camels. "I mean, a big bird's gotta eat, right? Who are we to stand in the way of nature's food chain?"

With a look at the hot sands all around him, he continues ... reluctantly. "Though I guess I'd prefer not to walk." With equal reluctance, he goes to help Shaggar corral the camels into the suddenly-small cave.

Will everyone fit? A quick looks indicates that we can't all fit unless we do some squeezing.

I think Dien mentioned earlier we could fit with a squeeze... but maybe she was speaking off the cuff. If we can't all fit, then Heldar will have to wait outside. :) Just joking! If we can't all fit, then let's free up one camel and slap it on the butt to send it running.

it will probably be a moot point, since something will happen as soon as shaggar steps out the cave. :p On phone right now, will get actual post up later. ...Also my phone wants to auto-correct shaggar into swagger

...Also my phone wants to auto-correct shaggar into swagger

And his name was forever changed! Swagger, I like it.

Clearly you have the awesome update to auto-correct since it captures my character's spirit. :D

Swaggar, swag-king of gnolls. Yes.

Rosalia groans and grumbles as she's prodded to wakeness, quite upset that someone would interrupt her beauty sleep, but the warnings of 'incoming!' very quickly rouse her consciousness into full activity. She roughly scrubs the granules of sleep from her eyes (or is that just sand?) and fumbles for her blade.

With movements being made to bring the camels in to safety, Rosalia attempts to sneak outside and get a glimpse at this bird-creature for herself. It's a bit hard to find anything to hide behind in the middle of the freakin' desert though, to be fair. The scrub-brush doesn't do much to conceal her form, stealthy as she is.

Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21
Knowledge (arcana or dungeoneering): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Sorry about the delay, got caught up checking a rules thing for the horrible thing I wanted to do to you all. Anyway...

The instant Shaggar's form breaks the cover of the cave, he realizes there are two other bird-like creatures nearby. And by 'nearby' we mean 'thirty feet above him, swooping down toward him screaming and crowing maniacally'.

Up close, they look like massive, winged lions or leopards, save that each one has the head of a falcon. Their eyes burn with the singular mad look of all birds of prey, and maybe a little malice on top of that. Their screaming cries pierce the desert as their cruelly curved beaks and humongous leonid claws tear into Shaggar like a whirlwind of death.

(This is a surprise round. The two other creatures were flying above the cave, quietly-- rolled really well for their Stealth, and even though Heldar rolled VERY nicely, I was tossing in penalties for trying to detect a flying creature using sound only, since he had no visual line to them, as well as distance and all the other goodies... so... sorry, Shaggar! Have some partial charges + higher ground + pounce.)

Attack, versus Shaggar's FF AC, H1, Bite: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 17
Attack, H1, Claw 1: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 34
Attack, H1, Claw 2: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 34

....yeah, I'm really sorry, Shaggar.

Confirm claw 1?: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 25
Confirm claw 2?: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 33

Damage, H1, B: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage, H1, Critical Claw: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 6) + 8 = 17
Damage, H1, Critical Claw: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 4) + 8 = 18

Attack, H2, B: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 25
Attack, H2, C1: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 33
Attack, H2, C2: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 22

Damage, H2, B: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage, H2, C1: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage, H2, C2: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

9+17+18+5+7+5 = 61 damage, Shaggar. How's that swagger looking?

(More coming)

Initiative, your new friends: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Shaggar: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22
Rosalia: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Lyrian: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Heldar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Javi: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Heldar: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Birdies: 1d20 ⇒ 6 That is good for you guys.

Initiative Order:

>...Rosalia
>...Shaggar
>...Heldar
...Sphinxes
...Lyrian
...Javi

Rosalia, Heldar, and Shaggar, you're up! I will consider everyone to be awake and on their feet, since you knew something was coming.

Rosalia, you may change your action if you wish, since the savaging-of-Shaggar happened before your stealth check. (same for Javi, when it gets to him)

However, you do recognize these beasts-- these are sphinxes, though of a particularly nasty sort. Many sphinxes are famed for their wisdom, but not hieracosphinxes-- these are considered the lowest of the sphinxes, and are spiteful, savage, and evil beasts, with keen eyes well-suited to spotting their prey anywhere in the empty sands. They are less intelligent than a human, but more intelligent than either the birds or lions that their bodies borrow from-- and possessed, as you have just witnessed, of a brutish cunning that relishes in laying ambushes, and tearing their prey limb from limb. They often hunt in small packs, and their most favored prey of all are the gynosphinxes, for only in groups can they hope to overwhelm the much wiser gynosphinx... usually to rape her. All hieracosphinxes are male.

Aside from their savage claws and beaks, which you have just witnessed in bloody action, you know that these animals are capable of letting out a particular scream which can deafen animals and people alike. They have no other magical abilities, no DR, and no resistances.

The sphinxes are large-sized, but do not have reach. Each of the two sphinxes who are close to you are 5 feet off the ground at the moment. Rosalia, Shaggar, or Heldar, go!

Before I forget

Camel Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

As Rosalia moves for her blade and makes for the entrance of the cave, her new (if unlikely) friend and companion gets torn to ribbons in front of her. The young magus' eyes widen in shock as she recognises the creatures from some travelogue she had been reading at the Lodge before the boat to Sothis had arrived; and, very quickly, they narrow in extreme anger. "The vermin of the sphinx species," she snarls through gritted teeth. "They deserve nothing but a swift and painful death!"

Buuuut they were kind of trapped in this stinking cave. Rosalia forces herself to stop, breathe, and think a little; this was a certain death trap if she didn't use her brains here. Think, Rosalia, THINK...

Finally, a plan springs to mind. Well... a "plan". It was more like a thought bubble that gave her some opportunity to get out and get behind the sphinxes without their knowledge. "Javi," she says, plucking a magical cloak from the air and shrouding herself in it until she's nothing more than a few swirling granules of displaced sand, "keep an eye out for me. We can work together on this one." The disembodied voice leaves, secretly making her way around behind the crazed sphinx. None can see her do so, but Rosalia passes her hand over her blade until the edge glimmers with supernatural sharpness.

Cast invisibility + move 30 feet + use arcane pool to make my gladius +2 agile keen gladius.