As the dawn sun makes the Sekrespheres flare in light Kosei shouts up "Quickly! We have to anoint the Sekrephere symbols in the proper order with holy or unholy water and orientate them to the Sun Disk!"
"We have to do it with all of them before the hour of noon or we will have to start again tomorrow!" the Garundi points towards the Horus one "Let's go my friends! Let's start by the Horus one!"
Kosei retrieves the holy water he requested at Pharama's temple.
Yeah, you arrived mid to late afternoon and have been flying around a bit over the large expanse and checking things out. So it's now dusk.
Kosei, in his excitement, misses the dawn for the setting sun. As it's sunset, you're not sure if that method will in fact work, and you don't know most of the Sekresphere locations, you might want to wait until morning.
You could try to rush it, but you'd likely just end up stuck in the Slave Trenches overnight, partially done.
Perception
Zilchus squints to the East.
"Would you look at the size of that bird? I can't be sure...because its so far away, but it's huge, ain't it?" Zilchus looks to see if anyone else sees it. "If that thing sees us, it might think we're a good meal. It's known to eat elephants. What a cool bird." He says that, but doesn't really want to think about the bird's claws cracking his bones or the beak splitting his bones. He shivers and thinks about taking another drink.
<excited ideas and doing stuff>
<reasoned response based on time>
Zilchus yawns, looking around.
"I think Flo is right. We go make a quiet camp back in one of the dead ends, then start fresh in the morning. What do you think Kosei?" Zilchus makes his agreement with Flo known.
If we agree, Zilchus will go back to the start and set up camp in a cul-de-trench.
"The giant eating bird?" Kosei shivers "No, I do not plan to be the meal of any more creature, I had enough with the crocodile, let's back of my friends"
Kosei nods "It is most deceiving we are so close but so far to do it my friends. But smart Florence is right, the sun will give us no more time. I think I did not properly remembered the words of the architect after all"
The Garundi will follow Zilchus and help him secure a camp site at the calmer and more easier to secure place at sight.
The party spends the night nestled in a little slice of the fey realms (very cool spell!) - protected from the extremes of the desert and who knows what else from the Slave Trenches.
In the morning, Sunday, Arodus 17, 4714, you awaken refreshed and ready to face a new dawn. You make your preparations quickly, and just catch the morning dawn flashing on the Sekrespheres of the Khepsutanem. It is much like last evenings display - the winds pick up and the trenches warm up.
You’re in the Northeastern most trench, near Horus’ Sekresphere. What is your plan for the day?
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"Would you look at the size of that bird? I can't be sure...because its so far away, but it's huge, ain't it?"
Huh?
"You mean a Condor?!" Stelle asks, looking the other way. "Don't be silly, Zilchus. Condors aren't real. They're just mythological."
~~~~
"Eh? Doesn't look like much, does it? But try stepping into the circle!"
Stelle steps into the circle, and suddenly finds herself transported into -- according to her -- the only kind of place you might find a Condor.
Without much prompting she encourages Anubis to gallop into the center of the meadow. He gently slides to a halt while he lowering his head and pointing his nose towards the ground so Stelle can roll off his back simultaneously. They promptly sprawl out on the meadowy grass and flowers.
"Aaahh!" exclaims Stelle. "This is the best magic ever!"
When everyone is ready to go, Stelle asks, "So, yes -- there is an order to consider when activating the Sekrepheres. We're not quite there yet, but I think it would be good to know where each one is before we start -- just in case they have to be activated quickly... or something."
She pulls out a charcoal pencil and starts making a notes on the map indicating which Sekrephere is Horus and which is Sobek.
"Yes," Stelle agrees. "We can find all the Sekrepheres that way, and mark them on the map. But then we have to return here, to figure out the first step to activating them. Then there is the second step."
Stelle pulls out a small memo pad and starts reading from it.
”Before any of the Sekrepheres can be activated, you must rouse the Khepsutanem from its slumber, for after so long a time, the magic that empowers it has certainly gone dormant. The source of the Sekrepheres’ power is found within a complex on the northern side of the earthworks called the Tekramenet. Once you’ve awakened the Khepsutanem, you must seek out the Chamber of the Sekrepheres within a second complex on the eastern reaches of the trenches, the Sekrephrenet. From there, it is a simple matter of anointing the Sekrephere symbols in the proper order with holy or unholy water.”
"I can't believe I wrote all of this down." She looks at the notes.
"Lot's of 'Sekre''s and 'enet's here. It's almost like some weird hierarchy to the names in this place."
For your review of the Sekrepheres, does Kosei cast another Wind Walk? Or do you walk the trench?
Also, I'll assume a roughly clockwise rotation, then middle, then west. Seems the most efficient whether you're flying or walking.
Note that if you walk, it'll take roughly all day to cover the distance. The bone piles are inconvenient and require difficult climbs (though some of you will no doubt be flying or air walking much of the day). If you fly the circuit, with time to examine each Sekrephere, will take an hour, maybe two.
Zilchus eagerly enters the toadstool ring, hoping for some nymphs on the other side, and is only mildly disappointed when it’s a safe resting area. ”Ok. Fine. This is good too, I guess,” Zilchus says while making himself comfortable. ”But it could be better.” Is it too much to ask for some nymphs? At least a kelpie or something?
Despite his minor disappointment, Zilchus spends the night happily eating nuts and munching on fruit and will be ready to explore more in the morning.
* * *
”Okay, so we need to do the thing to annoint the thing with the stuff in a particular order?” Zilchus tries to understand midway between all the explanations, but it’s clear he has little patience for it. As long as others know what to do, he can focus on not having his bones broken or his flesh torn, or his face pounded in...the stuff the party needs from him.
He attaches his weapon cord to his falchion and is ready to move on, walking or windwalking (if others have that magic).
”Alright, let’s go. We have work to do.”
The party, wind walking again thanks to Kosei and planning to start with a catalogue of the Sekrepheres, heads East to the next one, which is Isis, representing the use of magic to create great works. Next is Thoth, representing the power of the moon in the heavens above.
- - -
Turning south, you reach Ptah, representing the power of elemental earth and pass a little further when, a few hundred yards to the east, you see, and hear, a wondrous sight.
A thundering, hissing roar echoes along the trench here, as if from a cascade of water tumbling over a cliff. Yet this cascade is no normal waterfall - it is a wall of falling sand churning over the edge and dropping down into the trench below, turning the trench wall into a constantly churning wall of grit and dust. There is no apparent source of the sand above and no evidence of sand accumulating below.
Do you continue on to the next Sekrephere, or investigate the towering sandfall?
Perception
Zilchus is relieved when he is able to find his ass using both hands.
* * *
Zilchus pauses at the sandfall, awed.
”Now *THAT* is neat! It’s almost like the sands are jealous of the river and trying to recreate the majesty and power of the rushing water,” Zilchus crosses his arms, watching from a distance. ”Now, where does all the sand go? How does it get back to the desert? Now, this is a mystery and a wonder.”
He looks to see if anyone has any good ideas, while he ponders his own.
Stelle looks at the sandfall in wonder.
"It reminds me of a watermill, but of sand. Should we get closer and take a look?"
Stelle waits for the insight of Florence and the others.
As Detect Magic is a close range spell, I assume you’re all getting closer to examine this marvel as Stelle suggests.
The trench here descends from the junction to about 60’ at the end where the sandfall roars - for as you close the sound, amplified by the trench, booms through the canyon.
On the top of the wall, is a giant lake of moving sand, slowly draining like a vast hourglass that never empties. On the trench floor, the sand ‘foams’ in various strange eddies and currents to what appear to be a series of drains there to capture the sand.
The thundering sound of tons of sand falling to the trench floor makes it nearly impossible to speak if you remain close. Florence detects no magics though there is certainly something at work here. Deafened she makes a concentration check to get the spell off, but repeat failures are no problem as its a cantrip. The magics that power this strange edifice seem to be below the surface.
A cursory examination near the sandfall suggests there may be something on the other side. Or at least some space between the sandfall and the cliff face. Do you want Kosei to shapeshift into an Earth Elemental to take a look?
It will mean solidifying from wind walk, or you can come back to this later and continue with your catalogue of Sekrepheres.
Nidhi seems too distracted by her newly acquired flying carpet to notice much. She enjoys sitting atop it and gliding around. Wheee~
"I can swim but it's not my best talent." Nidhi peers at the churning sand in equal wonder and caution. Then: "I can send in a swarm of monkeys if you think it'll help," she offers. (link)
”We can come back to this later, right? Let’s not get too distracted with what we need to do? Unless....” Zilchus thinks aloud. ”Unless we want to use today on scouting and planning and then do the real thing tomorrow? That might be the best plan.”
Zilchus looks at the sand fall again.
”Besides, I’d like to take some time to explore this and we might not get a chance after we bring the pyramid to the ground. Might be today is fun and preparation while tomorrow is doom and gloom.”
Zilchus smiles at Florence. ”Yeah, Flo, we might as well enjoy our time here. We’re some of the few people to have seen this, I bet.”
He waits for what Kosei finds during his exploration.
She takes in Florence and Zilchus' words, considering their options. Nidhi looks up at the sky. "Do you think he'll send another pyramid?"
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”I dunno, Nidhi,” Zilchus scans the sky. ”I guess there could be a lot of them pyramids up there and we’d never know. We just don’t know, do we?”
Zilchus shivers at the memory of the spinning fall in the first pyramid. He’s not eager to have that again.
”Now, let’s see what this sand fall is all about. Do you know who would have loved this?”
Ben. That a$%~%&~.
”Yeah, Flo, we might as well enjoy our time here. We’re some of the few people to have seen this, I bet.”
"Agreed! Let's play about this place today, and make plenty of notes! Save the anointing for tomorrow."
"Do you think he'll send another pyramid?"
"He did it once, he could do it again. Let's count on it, and be prepared!"
Kosei will take a quick look, turning into an earth elemental, solidifying from wind walk, and sliding through the wall at the edge of the sand and behind the sandfall. While he’s gone, Stelle approaches the sandfall, and quickly realizes that, as mist, she could be dispersed (lots of damage) but even in solid form some damage is likely from the heavily falling sand (a little damage).
Kosei returns and reports that there’s a hallway carved into the rock which he could not pass through. The hallway enters the stone wall and curves north into the darkness. He felt uncomfortable, like he was being watched, but he could not place it. So he came back.
Returning to mist form again, the party continues their catalogue of Sekrepheres. The next statue just to your south, is Ra, representing the power of the sun shining in the heavens above. Further south is Set, representing the transition of life into death. Turning to the middle, you pass Sekhmet (elemental fire) on your way to Khepri, stylizing the use of physical labor to create great works.
As you pass from there to the West, you see an earthen rampart bisecting a large, pit-like depression in the ground. At the center of the rampart, the bridge-like span widens into a circular plaza, atop which an immense nest of boulders, rubble, and bones looms. The immense ribs of some mammoth desert beast protrude upward from the nest’s edges, giving the whole thing the unsettling appearance of a claw or fanged mouth opening toward the sky. No one seems to be home as you pass by.
Finally, you reach the last Sekrephere and find Osiris, representing the transition of death into life. You’ll also note that the trenches around the Sun Disk are rather deep, some reaching as far down as 120’.
(All Sekrephere's have been marked on the map.)
It is about lunchtime, lots of daylight left. Where do you go from here?
Nidhi seems interested in the oddly symmetrical design on the Eastern part of the trenches. The weaving S-shape seems like it would hold some sort of trap door downward into the cool earth. "This place was built as a royal grave, right? There is probably a crypt." She points and voices her interest to explore it. "And there's no statue there. I think we should investigate it first. It's probably a back entrance"
Zilchus nods at Nidhi’s idea to explore there first. He follows her and explores the area she talks about.
Perception
”Ayep, let’s find all the chakraspheres, especially those to the lesser deities, like Horus & Isis.”
I’ll assume you solidify for the detailed examinations as it takes several rounds to solidify and you don’t want to be doing that in the middle of combat. :) Kosei is still an earth elemental. He mentions to the party that as an earth elemental, he feels a distinct draw to the obelisks. He can resist it for now, but it’s a little disconcerting.
This long, winding trench comes to an end at a sheer wall of amber. Here, the trench reaches a depth of sixty feet, with the wall of amber that marks its end towering above the ground below. The face of the amber wall is inscribed with hundreds of complex, often overlapping hieroglyphs - inscribed symbols that slowly change and adjust and reform on their own, as if carved and erased and re-carved by invisible hands.
A nest of bones and sand lies at the base of the strange amber wall. But what is of more immediate concern perhaps is the huge gypsosphinx (image) standing in the nest studying the wall.
It screeches a greeting as you approach, his voice somewhat grating and loud, ”Ahh, adventurers I see. No doubt you’re here to slay everything and steal everything else but perhaps, if you’ll stay your blades a moment, we might chat. It is after all so hot to be fighting just now and there are other things, more deadly then myself about.”
Nidhi drifts next to Florence and speaks up.
"What a beautiful and commanding creature you are! You must be very smart and strong to live here. It would be an honor to talk to one such as yourself." Nidhi bows her head slightly at the huge gypsosphinx. Ben is going to be so jealous~! ...I bet this gypsosphinx knows about the dangers that lay in this trench. "Is this your territory? I would be happy to sing for you in exchange for our safe passage."
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"'Slay'? 'Steal'? 'Everything'? No, your Magnificence," Stelle says shaking her head, hoping to appeal to the creature's ego. "At the moment, we are just exploring this strange and facinating place."
She pauses, looking around and lowers her voice. "But you say, there are things more deadly then yourself about? Forgive me," she has Anubis perform a curtsy, "but that is difficult to imagine."
”Ahh, excellent. Quite the right attitude, I commend you on your intelligence!” he intones, clearly enjoying Nidhi’s flattery and Anubis’ curtsey.
- - -
The giant sphinx begins, ”My name is Khai-Utef, and I am indeed here studying this wall. Do you know what it is? Most fascinating…” He drifts off a moment and glances back at the wall longingly, ”This is an Amber Chronograph. Do any of you know what that is?”
The face presents a ponderously complex set of interwoven equations that constantly shift and reform, but those who study the countdown clocks generally come to the conclusion that the equations are organizing themselves and counting down to a specific date. Strangely, however, attempts to solve the equations to determine the date these artifacts are counting down to never provide the same answer twice, a paradox that has driven more than one scholar mad with frustration.
- - -
- - -
”You get many adventurers out here, do you? Where...what are they looking for?” Zilchus asks his own question, now that others have handled the diplomatic efforts.
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Zilchus’ eyes glaze over as Florence talks, not so much as he used to with Ben, but there is a definite shine in his eyes.
”What?”
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Zilchus nods, getting it.
”Right. Confusing clocks confound cranky cryptographers,” Zilchus understands.
Kosei makes a small pause on his distraction to observe the countdown clock " Strange, what serves a clock that points to a date you cannot know? Shall we dismantle it?"
Stelle ponders for a long time about walls of Amber with embedded timers.
"You see, the face presents a complex set of interwoven equations that constantly shift and reform. People that have done a lot of study on these clocks seem to agree that the equations are organizing themselves and counting down to a specific date. But it's strange, because attempts to solve the equations to determine the date never give the same answer twice! It's crazy!"
"Huh, I wonder if anyone ever takes Time itself into consideration when trying to solve the equations..."
- - -
”You get many adventurers out here, do you? Where...what are they looking for?” Zilchus asks his own question, now that others have handled the diplomatic efforts.
”No, not here, but I am an eminent researcher, and find them in many of the archaeological sites I frequent.”
The creature, beaked, manages to look like he’s smiling as Florence describes the nature of the wall. ”You’re absolutely correct but this Chronograph is different.”
He seems to warm to the topic, and drones on much as a professor speaking to his students. ”Here, the hieroglyphs represent the 11 planets of Golarion’s solar system. The motion of these planetary orbits seems strangely synchronized with the patterns of numbers on the wall above, suggesting that the countdown clocks may well be counting down an unknown number of units of time before some strange planetary or astronomical conjunction occurs.”
He pauses for breath before continuing, ”Further compounding this strangeness is the fact that these 11 planets are each associated with a separate Sekrephere, although frustratingly, in each case, the image of the planet obscures the top of each Sekrephere, making it impossible to know which Sekrephere the creator of the Amber Chronograph originally intended to link to which planet. If I could figure that out, I may be some way along in solving the riddle.”
Kosei makes a small pause on his distraction to observe the countdown clock " Strange, what serves a clock that points to a date you cannot know? Shall we dismantle it?"
”I would be surprised if you could dismantle it, and it would be a cruel joke to the intelligent world if you did.” He frowns at the earth elemental.
"Huh, I wonder if anyone ever takes Time itself into consideration when trying to solve the equations..."
”Time? How do you mean take time itself into consideration? What are your thoughts on this?” He seems quite intrigued.
In response to the Gypsosphinx Stelle redescribes the wall. "The face of the amber wall is inscribed with hundreds of complex, often overlapping hieroglyphs - inscribed symbols that slowly change and adjust and reform on their own, as if carved and erased and re-carved by invisible hands."
"But to quote Florence, attempts to solve the equations to determine the date never give the same answer twice! Doesn't that feel like an adaptation to you? The only thing constant here when anyone anywhere tries to solve the equations is the passage of time. Maybe the solution is to figure out how the equations evolve over time, and if you can do that -- predict the next equation or set of equations -- you might arrive at the answer."
"But to quote Florence, attempts to solve the equations to determine the date never give the same answer twice! Doesn't that feel like an adaptation to you? The only thing constant here when anyone anywhere tries to solve the equations is the passage of time. Maybe the solution is to figure out how the equations evolve over time, and if you can do that -- predict the next equation or set of equations -- you might arrive at the answer."
”Ahhh, fascinating. You would try logic to solve the puzzle. Yes, many have tried that approach, and the more slavishly they applied that science, the more likely they snapped. You’re on the right track I feel, but the problem is a complex one and not easily resolved.”
"We didn't know this Chronograph was here at all when we set out to reach this place, but we are looking to try and activate the Sekrepheres," Flo explains, deciding that honesty might be the best and most respectful route to take. "I wonder if their activation and this Chronograph are related in some way? Because we need to find a chamber or structure called the Tekramenet in order to activate them....and the only clue we have as to where this Tekrament is is that it's somewhere in the northern half of this great complex."
”I know nothing of your Sekrepheres. I have no interest in the ‘Trenches. Only in the Chronograph.”
He looks to the sky a brief moment before continuing, ”But my researches are hampered by a creature called the ‘Dusk-Taker’, also known as Kenjutret. He is an intelligent Roc, possibly Awakened” he possibly looks at a few blank faces, ”Which means a druid or some-such gave the damned beast a brain. It’s nasty, and I cannot hope to prevail in a fair fight which is why I must study this wall in the blasted heat of the day.” He eyes the party, “…but you hale adventurers may be just what I need to win.”
”What I propose is this, help me against Kenjutret, and I shall not oppose you here. Further,” he manages another beaked-smile to show his largess, ”I shall research any one important person, place, or thing for you, learning as much as I can - even if the project should take weeks. For I have the power of Legend Lore (link) and will use it for your purpose, once.” He preens a feather, ”Unless they are easy, in which case I may grant as many as three answers in quick succession.”
Zilchus keeps quiet while the others talk of clocks and time and things that don’t matter.
What matters is the waters in the river.
”He is an intelligent roc, possibly awakened.”
”An awakened rock? Like Kosei?” Zilchus asks, confused, snapping out of his reverie as the discussion goes to a mutual aid and pact.
Sense Motive - the sphinx’ offeer
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- - -
Kahai-Utef nods, and allows you to withdraw some distance away to converse among yourselves. He even manages to look like he’s not eavesdropping.