Noisy leads the way to the south and to the room terminating the hall to the east.
(A6) A marble statue stands at each end of this corridor. Purple faerie fire illuminates the east statue, which depicts a Garundi man who is healthy and vital on one side and cracked and burned on the other. The other
statue depicts a Garundi man wrapped in linen like a mummy and wielding a staff.
You recognize the first statue as Nethys, god of magic.
A PC who exceeding the DC by 10 or more also identifies the other statue as Ptah, Osirian god of creation and invention.
No other occupants are in this shrine area.
Backtracking from the shrine to the illusory wall room you see.
(A9)- Pools of pure elemental water, earth, and fire occupy this chamber. These apparently date back to the Pharaoh of Forgotten Plagues, whose forces captured them in a war with Jistka. The elemental presence has warped the stone in the room, giving the surface immediately surrounding the water pool a spongy texture, growing strange crystals near the earth pool, and sending veins of pulsing magma rippling through the flagstones near the fire pool. Several metal scoops and flasks are stored at narrow workstations between the pools.
A PC who studies the pools and succeeds at a DC 25 Knowledge (planes) check identifies combinations of elements that might conjure elementals of other types, such as air (fire mixed with water, then filtered through earth), ice (water mixed with air), lightning (fire mixed with air), magma (earth mixed with fire), and mud (earth mixed with water).
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Luisila points a finger at the two-faced statue. “Nethys. God of magic.”
She walks up to the Mummy statue and peers at it closely. "I was going to guess this was the Mwangi archmage Old-Mage Jatembe, who some scholars believe was an Aspect of Nethys. But it’s not! It’s actually Ptah, Osirian god of creation and invention."
“I’m thinking we have time to do a thorough search while Saruna dances with Thoth in the pale moonlight.”
“This room is oh, so very odd.”
The priestess dares partake of rampant speculation. “Perhaps the flasks are meant to be filled with the primordial elemental gunk – that’s a technical term, San Xiao – and used as splash weapons or something?”
She looks hopefully at Conan, Noisy and the Trap Breaker. “However, personally I’d wait for an expert’s opinion before doing anything hasty.”
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"Well, can't say this place isn't multi-denominational." Noisy adds, with a chuckle, as Luisila explains the statues.
"Have not had a chance to learn of most of these old Osirion gods."
He then proceeds to look around the room with the others.
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The next room proves even more interesting.
"Well... that's certainly interesting." He says, examining the pools.
"Also might explain where Saruna's recruiting her hired help from." He adds with a thoughtful grin.
He points at the pools. "Those elemental pools seem to have a very strong connection to the planes they represent. So much so, that I believe one might be able to use them to conjure elemental aid if neccessary."
"Been here a very long time. See how they've seeped into the surrounding stone. That doesn't happen quickly."
He takes a closer look. "I think you might even be able to mix and match to some degree, like combining paints to form new colors."
He ponders for a moment. "Though if it is where she got her elemental creatures, she did not seem to have as much control over them as you'd think."
He shrugs slightly. "So perhaps the forces here are a bit chaotic and hard to control."
"Hard to say. Something for the sages to sort out."
Luisila figures the statues are meant for offerings to the two gods and will typically grant some small blessing to their devotees.
In the pool room, San Xiao figures the raw elemental fire is harmful and enough can be harvested to create a single splash weapon of fire damage instead of calling an elemental.
However, the material is volatile, and evaporates and destabilizes quickly if not used. Creating such a splash weapon requires a successful Craft (alchemy) or Knowledge (arcana) check.
Noisy suspects the pools have been tapped out and may only have one use left.
(A8) Fredrik gets bored and wanders to the west, opening the north door for him and Savage to peer within.
This neatly kept office once doubled as living quarters. A basin in the northwest corner continuously refills with water as a decanter of endless water, and an ancient cot stands nearby. Magical illumination provides bright light. A tidy desk and workbench hold ancient quills and dried-up ink.
Fredrick calls San Xiao for the desk. You may want to check in here.
The desk’s drawers are locked and contain library acquisition records.
You open the drawers and recover the records.
A PC who succeeds at a DC 25 Perception check locates a loose stone under the cot. Prying it up reveals a cache of tools and a journal.
The final year of entries is encoded; a successful check and at least 2 hours of study are needed to decipher it. It describes some of the sage’s investigation of An-Hepsu XI’s rituals of immortality, including one that involved a canopic jar recovered from an undisclosed location in the Pillars of the Sun. With increasing bitterness, the sage expresses a fervent desire to survive the Keleshite attacks to ensure that the order of Jeweled Sages survives.
(A10) Fredrick then strolls casually west to check the last door, with no regard to setting off traps or enabling ancient cataclysms.
This is the room the Amethyst Sage used to perform several of the rituals he researched, and the architecture still bears the scars of his experimentation. The smell of burnt flesh still permeates the chamber, and now indecipherable runes drawn in blood long since reduced to powder line the floor. The walls are slightly cracked and in several places even seem to bow outward as though pushed apart by a powerful force. There is little left to learn from this room
You determine that someone performed potent ritual magic here long ago.
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Conan actually says none of what he had whispered to Luisila, too paralyzed with fear to speak! Ultimately though he shakes it on and moves on with the others, sheepishly silent over the UNMANNING SENSATION that had occurred.
Unable to offer any insights beyond what San Xiao has already learned about the room, Conan moves with Fredrik to be additional bodyguard for the agent, and tries not to be depressed about his SUCCUMBING TO FEAR. Perhaps he can work it into his next comedy routine, he supposes.
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Luisila draws a scroll of comprehend languages from a black leather case decorated with golden wasps.
A cool breeze ruffles each Pathfinder's hair as the priestess casts the spell, while her shadow's height increases, its pointed ears lengthen and translucent insectile wings sprout from its back.
The shadow turns about slowly to observe its surroundings, before leaning into Luisila and whispering into her ear.
Down the hall, you hear Saruna shuffling as she coos at the gem as if she was a grandmother pulling out a batch of homemade cookies.
Finally....it is finished. I am so close now. I can almost feel the wind in my wings again!
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The shadow leans into Luisila and whispers into her ear:
This knowledge is beyond your mortal consciousness to absorb, Lowly Deaconess. You should learn your station, crawling beneath the TRANSCENDENT Submissives of the Sublime Goddess!
As if I don’t get enough hectoring by VC Valsin and Lady Dyrianna …
Luisila *rolls* her eyes. Now I get attitude from nameless Outsiders as well…
She turns to Noisy and replies with her raspy, yet less melancholy voice.
The gem has been purified but it is not without flaws.
I cannot say whether the guardians will accept it, but we will need the blessing of Isis before we will be allowed into the portal.
She smiles and asks you...
So are we ready to descend to the Portal and complete our fates?
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“Bring it.”
Luisila pretends to make small talk, while continuing to probe the Sphinx-Mummy(?)’s values. “Isis is a good deity, isn’t She, Saruna?”
“Did you revere the Sphinx Mother before the Amethyst Sage absconded?”
The priestess *casts* protection from energy (fire) on Conan and magic circle against evil before stepping onto the third level.
I revered only knowledge prior to my existence. Over time I have developed an affinity towards Thoth.
Saruna leads you to the second level and the circular room with the guardians.
She responds back to Noisy.
There is no 'beyond' the Beacon. The Crystal Beacon is a large crystal capable of manipulating the Sky Vault of Ra and all its contents.
The Sky Vault acts as an extra-dimensional space though its contents are accessible only through the careful manipulation of the Crystal Beacon.
The vast knowledge of the library is stored within the Sky Vault.
Poking your head into the room to the west, you see what appears to be a mostly vacated bedroom.
A small bed, a workbench, and several hanging blueprints occupy this room.
One particular framed blueprint on the wall is the only thing of interest remaining.
If a PC succeeds at a DC 20 Knowledge (engineering or history) check, he recognizes as the original plan for the royal palace inside the shell of Ulunat, the Spawn of Rovagug destroyed by Azghaad I
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Conan gives Luisila a grateful nod-- both for her discretion and her continued spell protections as well.
After the ritual is concluded, Conan studies the blueprint...
...but knows nothing about it. The trip seems to be getting the big red-headed man down. He sighs gustily at Luisila.
"This trip has provided me with few new jokes. PERHAPS AHEAD I WILL FIND SOMETHING HUMOROUS. Let us, as you say, EMBRACE OUR FATES."
He readies his greatsword as they prepare to enter the room with the constructs, using another charge from his wand of shield before they step in.
The party follows Saruna closer to the circle with the golems.
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Luisila holds a scroll in her right hand and her bow in her left.
“Wow!”
The cleric stands beside San Xiao as the alchemist explains the engineering plan. “I have actually been under the Ulunat’s shell and seen the Forthbringer’s Palace from a distance.”
“It never occurred to me until I visited there, that they don’t have to worry about getting wet when it rains.”
“Let us, as you say, EMBRACE OUR FATES.”
“Provided that fate doesn’t sink to endorsing fast-turnover Family Restaurants, Conan.”
Luisila gives the big man a friendly punch on the arm.
Saruna whispers.
"You must present the gem to the guardians to receive the blessing of Isis. I have only read about this, so how exactly it is done, I cannot be sure. Also, they may not accept the flawed gem so be prepared.
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Luisila pats her longbow. “Once it all gets too hard, I generally just start shooting things, Noisy.”
Blessing of Isis, huh? I prefer Cali’s blessings personally …
“Fredrik, can you please *cast* bless from your wand, air walk on Savage and unbreakable heart on Conan, please?”
Luisila also *casts* bull’s strength on Conan.
Fredrick will cast the 3 spells as requested.
As Noisy has the gem in his possession, Saruna nudges him forward.
Well....go on. What are you waiting for?
Take it up to them and see if they accept it and grant us access to the portal.
Once Noisy steps into the room a booming voice calls out from the central pillar.
Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Exit Immediately!"
Magic Mouth Spell
The central pillar starts to emit bright light as daylight.
Simultaneously, each set of eyes on the 4 golems start to glow blue as dust shakes from their bodies as they animate and their heads turn directly towards Noisy.
== Round 1 ==
1. Savage (airwalk), Saruna() <== Can go
2. Glass Dudes ()
3. Fredrick (), Luisila (bone, key), Noisy (GEM, ), San Xiao (), Conan (str,heart,FoM,protFire)
4. Wood Dudes ()
Saruna's raspy voice almost cackles with glee.
How marvelous! After all these years, it actually worked! she taps herself with a wand and her mummified body starts to shimmer.
The two glassy golems shake for a bit as more dust falls off them, revealing dazzling bright crystalane surfaces, which appear to be re-aligning.
They appear to be standing ready for something, but do not attack...yet.
== Round 1 ==
1. Savage (airwalk), Saruna()
2. Glass Dudes (dazzling)
3. Fredrick (), Luisila (bone, key), Noisy (GEM, ), San Xiao (), Conan (str,heart,FoM,protFire) <= Go
4. Wood Dudes ()
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Luisila steps 5' to the south and waits to see if one of the others can understand the voice, so they can relay what’s going on.
If they CANNOT, she releases her bow to leave it dangling on its weapon cord, pulls out the Diamond Sage’s scroll of tongues and *casts* the spell on San Xiao.
If they CAN, she delays until after words are explained to her but BEFORE Wood Dudes.
“Please, nobody attack until we find out what this is all about.”
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"Now what?!" He shouts.
Squinting into the bright light shining off of the glass golems Noisy continues to hold the gem high as he takes a few steps into the room.
"Is it working?" He adds, his eyes dazzled by the glare. "I can barely see a thing..."
"We are with the Jeweled Sages," He shouts towards the constructs. "I present this... uh... totally legitimate... sage jewel as a token of that allegiance." Doing his best to sound like he's supposed to be there and its all on the up and up.
"The Librarian herself is here with us." He adds hopefully.
"Uh... Saruna, aren't they supposed to be standing down or something?" He mutters in a stage whisper over his shoulder.
"Crap," He adds a moment later, "Do I have to speak in Ancient Osirion or something?"
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"Thank you, Luisila, I feel more HEROIC than ever!" Conan says with a bit of arm flexing, admiring his newly bulging biceps. "Remind me to send you FLOWERS."
Conan only looks confused at the language, but he decides he doesn't need to know what is being said, precisely-- what matters is interposing himself between Noisy and the large constructs. He hurries forward, squinting against the light.
The light is not a problem! He walks into it. Waiiit, never mind. No going into the light. His sword is drawn, though.
From the raspy voiced Saruna.
"Maybe try to hand it to them or get closer? ."
Once Noisy moves within 20' the golems seem to notice the gem.
"That seems close enough Noisy ." Fredrick calls out from the hall.
The wooden constructs move up within reach of Noisy.
Bless +1
== Round 2 ==
1. Savage (airwalk), Saruna() <== Can go
2. Glass Dudes (dazzling)
3. Fredrick (), Luisila (bone, key), Noisy (GEM, ), San Xiao (), Conan (str,heart,FoM,protFire)
4. Wood Dudes ()