Dwizzle leaps to his feet and races over to Hogan to administer to his brother's injuries.
"No worries, good Sir Stonebrother! We'll have you fixed right up!"
His mouth twists for a moment.
"Ah! I cannot do anything I am afraid about your sapped strength as good ol' Ra only allows me a single fixin' of that each day! So, it'll either be that scroll, or you'll need to suffer with a bit of venom in the veins this afternoon..."
Seherab shakes his head as well. "I know a bit of alchemy, but the magic doesn't seem to extend beyond my own person, unfortunately. The tonics only ever work for me." He continues, "We have come this far though that I think we must go on for now. We can fix your strength after we take out this lamia cult."
Seherab signs for everyone to follow to the left, deigning not to speak once he crosses the entrance. He checks the first door to the left and opens it if it is safe.
Dwizzle heals up the bold dwarfadin as Seherab traverses the hallways, inspecting the doors.
It appears that this long, semicircular hallway is lined with small chambers housing up to two dozen human bodies apiece. Some of the bodies here have been immaculately mummified, while others were originally left to the elements and later gathered and interred here in a less than perfect state.
At the apex of each curve, a room stands apart in each hallway. Originally ossuaries, the rooms have a stark silence and musty aroma. Each appears to be a bedchamber of sorts and holds a collection of essential oils, fragrances, and perfumes worth 750 gp, as well as various coins worth 300 gp.
Only the double doors look to be the path forward into the Cenotaph and the doors don't appear to be locked.
Status
Hogan @ 53/59 HP with 6 Strength Damage
Dwizzle, upon Hogan's encouragement, liberates the scroll he earlier declined accepting. Unfurling it, he quickly reads through the divine writings on the page.
Crumpling up the scroll, he shoves it into his pack.
"Never know when you might need some paper..."
He then blinks at the double doors.
"Well, they won't open themselves. Gooooo Team Dwarf!"
He waves the end of his banner around in an attempt to generate enthusiasm as he nudges Hogan and Teos ahead.
Seherab tries to keep the gnome quiet and teach him a few signals in Dwarf Sign Language after checking all the rooms. Very disturbing. They could be making undead with these. he signs to his dwarven brethren. Once everyone is ready, Seherab takes his sword back out of its sheath and pushes open the double doors on the left.
Ankhef nods glad that the scroll was of use.
"Many thanks." Hogan nods to Dwizzle.
Teos signs his readiness to Honored Sehereab, tightening his sash and cracking his meaty knuckles.
The group readies themselves after helping Hogan overcome some of the effects of the poison. Seherab opens the door as the dwarves look inside.
Four columns support the ceiling of this large chamber, filled with stone tables and curtains of tattered velvet. Stone fonts carved with images of scarab beetles and whippoorwills stand between the columns to the east and west. Two sets of double doors exit the room to the south, and doors to the north sports relief carvings of Pharasma as both deliverer of life and harvester of the dead. Deep, chiseled gashes mar the goddess’s carved face. The ceiling is 40 feet high in this room.
In the middle of the room, a man sits cross-legged with his eyes closed. He is flanked by a pair of male lions. As you step inside, the man speaks in Common. "Leave this sanctuary otherwise I shall be forced to eject you, living or not." he says without bothering to open his eyes. The lions watch you intently but don't react to you entering the room.
"You seem not to be a fan of Pharasma. Are you responsible for the undead uprising? Have you had a hand in it? We have been tasked by the Church to put an end to this offront to life and death as it should be."
Dwizzle rubs his temples, dismissing any stressful thoughts caused by the man's of forceful ejection .
"Well, uhh, hello sir!"
Dwizzle bows, but given his stature, that only apparently requires pivoting his torso downward about 3 inches.
"As my fellow dwarf here said, we're good people really! Trying to stop all the moan groan and nnnhhh unhhhh going on up in the streets, you know? No need to force anyone anywhere, really... we won't take much time of yours, just a few questions, and I..."
Dwizzle looks about.
".. I imagine it gets lonely in here with just your, umm, lions to talk to? They don't talk back do they?"
Ankhef, waits in silence rather than speaking up at the moment.
Hogan just looks on as Dwizzle makes their case. The little gnome was too much sometimes, but he could talk.
Swizzle's positive demeanor doesn't seem to shift the man's attitude as he responds. "I will answer no questions and you will leave. "
"I will tell you that the undead do not originate from here, but that is all. "
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Seherab doesn't have the sweetest voice but he tries to continue. "If you aren't causing the undead then you've no reason not to cooperate. We're just trying to stop the undead invasion is all. So unless you've got a hand in it someway or are directly profiting from it, it's in your best interest to help."
"I have no fear from either the undead or you. My mistresses will protect me, so you should leave before my pets eviscerate you and eat your bowels." he says in response to Seherab.
Teos' brow furrows in anger and he signs angrily. Evil servant!
"That is a threat. We are not afraid of you brother. Or your housecats." Hogan says drawing his hammer.
"You better rethink your action as your dwarf brother's words are also threats holy man." the seated man says as he rises to his feet and the cats advance in front of him, baring their fangs. "I told you that you need to leave by the will of the Amushet."
Dwizzle frowns, as his argument appears to have been neither compelling or succesful, and then doubly so as the dwarves about him escalate matters.
"I... uh... there's no reason to get touchy. He's not... evil is he, errr.. Brother Stonebrother?"
Hogan will find out the answer to that question.
If Hogan gives indication that the man is evil, Seherab will start advancing into the room. Really, the man is openly against Pharasma it seems! I can't say I'm the most devoted to the Lady of Graves, but I'd be lying if I said I weren't coming around. They've treated us well, after all.
Hogan looks at the man with his special eyes, but doesn't detect any auras.
As Hogan shakes his head, Dwizzle holds up his hands in mock surrender.
"No need to be testy sir! Are you sure there's nothing we can do to make you a bit more, err... hospitable?"
Getting no signal from Hogan, Seherab sheathes his sword and says, "All right. But we're going to get to the bottom of this undead uprising one way or another. If you don't want to help, that's your business. But if we find evidence that you're involved or benefiting in some way, expect another visit from us."
Hogan will tell the party that he detects no evil from this man. "What he said."
"You will find what you find, but nothing will lead back here." he says with a shrug, still not deigning to move.
"Fine brother. We should go." Hogan says before leading the group out.
The group composes themselves as they make the way toward the place marked 'Asetiti Estate' on the map.
As you approach, you see a giant villa situated on the side of a hill, quite an oddity in the necropolis. At the entrance to the villa, you see two humanoids with pale brows and black, soulless eyes above black scarves wrapped around their faces. They carry short swords that glint green in the light. They appear to be guards.
Hogan will stare at the two guards before approaching any further.
The guards do not detect as evil and they seem to have noticed the dwarfadin that is staring at them.
Sensing no evil from them Hogan greets them. "Hail there. Who dwells in this villa?"
The two creatures draw their short swords and brandish them at you, rapidly chittering through languages.
The lead creature address Hogan directly, but he seems to be at a loss. They appear to be threatening but are not actively trying to hurt you, possibly more defensive.
"What are they saying?"
Dwizzle claps his hands excitedly.
"Oh! Osiriani! I recognize it! They are the Xotl clan and this is their home and... wait, was that we're unwelcome"
Dwizzle smooths his beard, rubs his hands together again and steps forward, waving and responding in Osiriani.
"Hail good friends! I believe you used the word for 'unwelcome' when you most surely meant 'welcome' - an easy mistake, I'm sure, heh..."
He gestures to the dwarves circled about.
"This here is my clan, err, Clan Dwarf and we come trading gold for answers to questions..."
Dwizzle digs through his bag, grabbing a handful of coins and presenting them, working to maximize how they might reflect the dull light in the room.
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"Indeed! You seem to be guarding yourselves against the undead threat. No doubt you have an interest in eradicating it, as do we. Perhaps you can cooperate with us?"
Teos remains silent and empty-handed, but edges closer, disturbed by the ready use of weapons by these creatures.
Dwizzle smiles innocently after delivering his proposition.
The dark folk look at the motley crew with wary in their eyes. They sheath their swords, seeing that you mean no harm. One of the two guards begins to speak.
The guards stops speaking and the pair watches you intently.
Seherab translates for the others, "We are not welcome but they have asked us what we need and have not attacked yet. I'm getting quite tired of people not cooperating with us."
Switching back to Osiriani, Seherab then calls out, "Fine then! We mean you no harm if you can offer us some help. Tell your matriarch that we are looking for the source of the undead uprising and if you have any information regard who is behind it all, we might be willing to offer payment for that information."
The interest of the guard appears to be peaked as Seherab responds.
"On authority of the church of Pharasma," Seherab answers. "Though not all of us belong to the church. We are an archaeological team and we have agreeed to work with the Pharasmins."
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The dark folk share a glance with each other as they chatter in a foreign language. Shortly after, one of the guards scuttles up towards the manor house of the villa. The other one stays with you.
Teos nods in agreement. He signs delicious!. He pauses and continues. Say things about pointing tool, also? he tentatively offers to Seherab.
Dwizzle prattles on given every opportunity, carrying out the conversation in Osiriani and translating for Hogan and the others who have trouble with the language (or any language for that matter, including Common).
"Oh my, it's so delicious. There's this fellow with a stall, looks dirty mind you, and a couple, uhhh, cockroaches running about, but that's a good sign, isn't it? Shows the food is in high demand, right?"
Dwizzle coughs.
"Anyway, the fella that runs this, ahh, Azif I believe, but my memory is a bit foggy... he does amazing things with lamb and tahini... I'm salivating now even explaining it to you all. If things go well, we'll certainly have to bring you a big delivery. I mean, you'll put in a good word with the matriarch for us, right? Explain how we're good friends now, and are planning to come back with shawarma for everyone? The whole tribe? We just want to get to the bottom of this whole dead-walking-the-land-above problem and all that."
"Why are you talking about food?"