The steps Ryster indicates lead up where there must have been an ancient walkway fifty feet above the cavern but that is now long gone; only the two natural stone pillars remain, although you can see that there is more to the temple complex across the way; a small foyer and a pair of doors are open to the sky across the way.
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"Well. That was unpleasant." Hal sits up and whistles for Th'reiwa-don. Swinging into the saddle he reaches down and grabs Bizzle by the lapel and drags him up onto his lap. "Unfortunately, Th'reiwa-don does not possess the power of flight. He is a passable jumper, however."
The axe beak squawks loudly to complain but manages to thunder across the chasm.
Every makes it over to the heavy bronze doors safely. There is a slot for a key and luckily the key you found in the room with the sarcophagi opens it!
In the room beyond, the only occupant is an aging Garundi man wearing violet robes and gold armbands studded with jewels. Most immediately apparent is that the sage's physical form exhibits few signs of decay. His voice is calm yet vibrant as he asks you in Osiriani, “Did the satrap send you to kill me?”
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Poirot does a double take, before responding in Osiriani.
"How long have you been cut off from outside information? Zere has not been a Satrap in Osirion in quite some time. Khemet I overzrew ze Keleshite Sultan in 4609 AR."
He then bows.
"But where are my manners? My name is Poirot, Hercule Poirot, and we are here on behalf of Tahonikepsu, ze current Diamond Sage, who is seeking to rebuild ze Order. To be honest, we were only expecting to find ze jewel, but its current bearer would be an even better option. Would you be willing to accompany us?"
"Well met, Hercule Poirot. All of these tidings you bring are good news. My name is Sinuhotep. I am the bearer of the amethyst sage jewel, as you seem to have surmised. After I fled the Sanctum, I traveled to the south, looking for ways to protect my sage jewel. I found what I was looking for, but a powerful curse bound me to this place. I have been here for too many years to count."
"So you serve the Sages? Is the Order truly being restored? Do you know what became of my old apprentices? Did Badru or Saruna survive?"
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Poirot nods.
"Tahonikepsu (ze Diamond Sage) and Amenopheus (ze Sapphire Sage) are certainly trying to restore ze order. Ze Ruby jewel was broken, but ze pieces were recovered, and attempts are being made to restore it. Ze Topaz jewel has been recovered, but is currently not attuned to a bearer. Ze Emerald jewel is currently missing, but we have a fair idea of who has it."
He then gives an apologetic smile.
"As to your apprentices... well... When we encountered zem, Badru and Saruna were at war. We sided wiz Badru, but unfortunately Saruna needed to be destroyed; she seemed to be holding a grudge. Badru, however, is most eager to see you again."
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"This is amazing luck. Honored sage Sinuhotep, I am Professor Cosmo Berrythwaite, of the Absolom Berrythwaites. I am your humble servant. As Monsieur Poirot explained, we serve the Jeweled Sages." Cosmo bows.
"Please, tell us—how may we serve you? What can be done to free you from your bondage here?"
I have so many questions. Patience...
Sinuhotep is pleased to hear that at least on his apprentices still exists and is well.
"Please, tell us—how may we serve you? What can be done to free you from your bondage here?"
"Ever since I left my beloved Osirion, everything I have done has had a singular purpose: to recreate the order of the Jeweled Sages. What you have told me means that I can finally return home and rejoin the order. However, before I can leave, I will need your help. My immortality also carries a curse, and I cannot leave unless a hateful creature that put the curse on me is destroyed. The question is: will you slay this creature for me, set me free, and support my endeavor to rejoin the Jeweled Sages?"
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"Hush, Bizzle," Hal softly chides. "I believe that I understand." He unslings his bow. "We must slay you, so that this undead form is shed, the curse is lifted, and you may--in time--return as the Amethyst Sage."
The elf gives a hard stare and the gentlest of pauses. "My regrets, wise one, but I must kill you now. State when you are ready," he breathes, hushed words barely above a whisper. His face betrays sadness tinged with hope and a calm hand reaches for the quiver by his side.
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"Hush, Bizzle," Hal softly chides. "I believe that I understand." He unslings his bow. "We must slay you, so that this undead form is shed, the curse is lifted, and you may--in time--return as the Amethyst Sage."
The elf gives a hard stare and the gentlest of pauses. "My regrets, wise one, but I must kill you now. State when you are ready," he breathes, hushed words barely above a whisper. His face betrays sadness tinged with hope and a calm hand reaches for the quiver by his side.
Almost as soon as Hal speaks, Bruxo reaches out to stay his hand. Someone must die this day, the Shoanti says quietly, but I don't think you've identified the correct individual; some other entity is keeping Sinohotep here, if I am reading his words right.
He ponders a moment more, before turning to the lich. Tell us about this other, this force that put this curse on you.
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"Hush, Bizzle," Hal softly chides. "I believe that I understand." He unslings his bow. "We must slay you, so that this undead form is shed, the curse is lifted, and you may--in time--return as the Amethyst Sage."
"You would destroy me? You would also destroy the things I’ve seen: war chariots of fire soaring through the night sky over Osirion, pharaohs of old speaking to me from beyond the Gate of the Dead, even the 56 visits of Aucturn’s Tear, which even now blazes brighter than it ever has as it once more approaches Golarion. All of those moments would be wiped away, like dust in the desert wind. My soul is bound to the jewel," he says, tapping the purple gemstone in his right armband. "If one ceases to exist, the other must, too."
"I did what was necessary for survival—not for my own sake, but for the survival of the Jeweled Sages. How many people have you killed during your careers? How many nameless guards and servants you have slain? Were they all evil? Or was it just convenient for you to kill them? I do not relish this form and I do not celebrate what I have done to attain it. But I hope you understand my reasons. Won't you work with me? You are deciding the fate of the Order."
"As for the one who holds the curse on me, I am not well versed in extraplanar creatures. I can tell you this: the thing is draped in rags and hunched over on goatlike legs. It possesses a featureless face, save for a large eye ringed by fangs."
All divs exhibit some manner of compulsion, and aghashes’ is to despise beautiful mortals. If given a choice between attacking two different opponents, an aghash always chooses the most physically becoming foe. Such is their loathing—or, perhaps, jealousy—that an aghash might stalk attractive foes, delighting in afflicting them with curses that sap their Charisma or otherwise undermines their charm. With its spectral hand ability an aghash can deliver curses from a distance, leading some victims to believe they’ve been afflicted by a disease or cursed by the gods themselves. All the while, the aghash lingers nearby, delighting in the suffering it has caused.
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So your captor is a div, Bruxo says. Ousiders that sow misfortune and ruin. An aghash div, specifically. They delight in bringing destruction and suffering to the vain and arrogant. Curiously, they hate physically beautiful people above all.
They are resistant to weapons that are not holy or forged from cold iron, and to acid, electricity, and certain spells. Like all divs, they are immune to fire and poison and can see in the dark.
Bruxo turns to the party. This is our choice, friends: to free Sinohotep and have him return to the Jeweled Sages, we must defeat this div. Or else... he nods to Hal as his voice drops, we follow the impulse of our companion and vanquish this lich, thus ending too the knowledge he possesses.
Whose side shall we choose?
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"I say zat we choose Sinuhotep. For a Lich, he seems positively amiable. I am also loaze to destroy knowledge, and he is clearly an incredible font of it. Ze fact zat, to truly destroy him, we would need to destroy his phylactery, which he has indicated is his (purple = amethyst) sage jewel, is also anozer contraindication, as far as I am concerned. I say zat we destroy ze Div!"
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Ryster listens to his native tongue with a blank stare on his face, trying to follow all that is bein discussed. When the conversation turns to who the party is going to destroy, he grins ever so slightly at the ease of which his party members discuss such things.
Finally he sighs, and glances at the Professor. "Can you be a lich and not be.....well, evil?"
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"You speak truly, wise one, for there are those whose intentions I mistook and too hastily dispatched, to my everlasting regret. And again, I regret to mistaken your intentions as well." Hal slides a white-feathered arrow back into the quiver.
"Will you submit to the leadership of the Diamond Sage? In ages past, as you will remember, no sage held precedence over the rest. That has changed, for the betterment of the Order--lest it crumble once again."
"Will you submit to the leadership of the Diamond Sage? In ages past, as you will remember, no sage held precedence over the rest. That has changed, for the betterment of the Order--lest it crumble once again."
"I can agree to those terms. As I have explained, everything I have done has been for the preservation of the Order. I look forward to meeting the new Diamond Sage, but I am sure their leadership is well-deserved."
Sinuhotep nods, clearly glad that you have chosen to side with him. "Thank you for making a wise choice, friends. If you will allow me, I will try to attract my captor's attention." Sinuhotep approaches and asks you to part so that he can come near the door. Once you are ready, Sinuhotep steps through the door, visibly straining himself and soon falling to his knees. In great anguish, he yells “You ugly old wretch, reveal yourself !”
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"Let's move back so the div can enter the room. It will be easier for us to attack him in the room than in the hallway."
Cosmo moves behind the pillar and draws Gamin the misforged. He then casts divine favor on himself. Gamin casts guidance on Cosmo.
Cosmo hides behind the column and casts cleromancy.
He then quick draws his pistol.
divine favor = round 1
cleromancy = round 0
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Hal nods his assent, taking what comfort he can that Tahonikepsu may be able to corral whatever evil urges might tempt the Amethyst Sage. A wand pops into his hand and he taps himself with it. He gives Th'reiwa-don a nudge and takes up a position by the stairs, dropping the wand unceremoniously to the ground. He whispers a quiet prayer and feathers erupt from either side of his face. He notches his first arrows.
A screeching howl echoes through the cavern outside as the dust swirls about and manifests into the hideously grotesque div you were warned about, perched atop the southern pillar. Below the sand begins to take shape, as if outlining a pocket of air: an air elemental accompanying the aghash div!
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Bruxo will cast glitterdust (DC 18 Will) as shown on the map, then draw a rod from his belt as he moves back into the relative safety of the landing. Big elemental out there, he reports with a worried expression, to cooperate with his fellow Pathfinders. One might even say Huge.
Bizzle's tentacles fail to grab the airy enemies and Bruxo's glitter only bedazzles them. Angry at the indigence of such actions, the air elemental flies up to Bruxo and slams into the witch!
Surma thinks that Hal looks like an intimidating foe and tries to fossilize him in place!
Hal stiffens under the pressure as Bizzle hits the elemental with a few force missiles! Hercule calls on an ally to join the fight and the lion takes to the air, grabbing Surma in its jaws and pummeling her with its claws!