So far, I think Florence and Stelle suggest leaving it alone, while Zilchus and Kosei suggest somehow drawing them away. Nidhi, at least initially, was leaning the same way.
If you decide to draw them off, I need to know exactly what you write on the column. Side note, the column is written in ancient Osiriani, so I presume you'd do the same. All I need to know is exactly how you'd phrase it in common, and I'll assume your translation is precise.
I'll also need a Bluff check, to pretend you're pharaoh Hakotep. As they cannot see the mask through the pillars, it gives you no additional bonus to the roll.
Oh, and Stelle detects no mummies within range.
"Since we can not discern how new the last message actually is, I am inclined to leave it alone. However, I won't stop any of you from sending a message if that is what you all decide to do."
Kosei looks to Nidhi hopeful, hoping the strong woman will be more decided on taking action about message writing "Well... mmm... I suppose I am ok with whatever my friends... whatever it happens we will discover and if we are together I am sure we will find the solution to it"
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"What harm can there be in sending a message?" Nidhi glides the carpet towards one of the pillars. "Ahem." The bard pushes the sleeves of her cloak up to her elbows.
"My loyal subjects," Nidhi wishes her geography was better. "It is not yet time for me to assume my rightful throne. I must see first - if through these years - your allegiance to me is still true. Fly to the bottom of the Inner Sea. Then, my loyals, you shall be Do not delay." Nidhi doubts the pyramids could resurface from the water's pressure.
Zilchus nearly buckles at the knees as he hears what Nidhi asks for and wishes.
Wow.
Nidhi performs in front of the pillar to the delight of the party, but nothing happens... After a thoughtful moment, she writes on the pillar, in ancient Osirion, what she previously performed for the party and the writing appears here and, presumably, in the other pyramids connected to this one.
Using bluff not perform, she attempts to get her desires across (I'll let you keep the roll of course!).
Nothing immediately happens. In past missives there were responses to the commands given, but nothing comes back through the pillar. At least not right away.
How long do you wait around, and what is your plan next?
Kosei almost falls to his ass while he contemplates the woman perform her amazing bluff "That is impressive thinking my friend! We are at good hands here Nidhi my friend, your tale shall shine at the stars below waters forever more"
As the group waits the lion considers next steps "We can try to go back to the gelatin and try to find out what spells can counter it. The clue shall be on that 'I, Khenpathes, created this alchemical wonder, Like to like makes the passage.' that Nidhi deciphered my friends"
"Or we can just try a different crypt"
Behind her is a solid topaz pyramid (Link to the image of the sapphire pyramid. Yours is topaz, but you get the idea.), about four feet tall, cut from what looks like a single massive gemstone. Likely it was created magically for none of you have ever seen a topaz that large. To synch it, glowing illusory orbs float around each pyramid giving it an extremely energetic feel. In ancient Osiriani hieroglyphs around the base are the words, ‘Open in the name of Hakotep.’
Zilchus returns his attention to the super interesting topaz pyramid.
”What did you guys make of this? It’s weird, right?” Zilchus asks. ”Flo? Nidhi?”
The bard tosses her long, thick braid over her shoulder at Kosei's compliment. "Oh, yes. I do have a way with performances." She shrugs at the mention of dispelling, not knowing much about that school of magic herself.
For the message, Nidhi is willing to wait for five minutes before asking around, "did anything happen?"
Nidhi waits a few minutes while the party discusses what to do and examines the topaz pyramid further. Nothing happens in response to Nidhi's statement, at least not after 5 minutes.
Florence, you made the roll earlier, so no need to roll again. You know the info in the spoiler.
You learn nothing new with further study.
"My loyal subjects, it is not yet time for me to assume my rightful throne. I must see first - if through these years - your allegiance to me is still true. Fly to the bottom of the Inner Sea. Then, my loyals, you shall be reborn in my glorious image! Do not delay."
Stelle looks around the air as Nidhi speaks, forgetting to breathe. She continues holding her breath until something happens. Eventually, when nothing does, she slowly follows the others to the topaz pyramid.
~~
"I'm game to try fiddling with this thing to see what it does but only if everyone else is. It could turn out really great, or, um, really bad..."
Stelle rides up to take a closer look at the pyramid.
"O.K. Where do you think we should start?"
"Um, well... if this provides power to the pyramids we just talked to and it is currently closed, lots of bad things could happen if we 'open' it."
"Maybe we should continue our hunt for Hakotep, take him out, then come back to this?"
Kosei nods in agreement "There is this old ancient tale about the woman who opened the box who had been told not to open, and then all the evilness of ancient times came out of the box... well... without more knowledge about the pyramid... it is difficult to tell my friends"
"So unless someone has a way to ask the gods if that is a good idea to do or not, let's go back and check that corridor"
Zilchus bows to the superior wisdom of the others, and follows along in the front. He has his sword out, eyes open.
"This way, Kosei?" Zilchus moves down the hallway, but is unsure exactly where.
Perception
The party falls back on the, uh, 'oozy' red corridor.
Knowledge Alchemy might reveal more as it is a manufactured substance. Your perceptions reveal nothing has changed since you were here last.
Acid: Dealing acid damage to the substance is the most effective method of clearing it. Every 10 points of acid damage dealt to the gelatin causes a chain reaction that clears a 15- foot length of the corridor. This reveals the meaning of the phrase, “Like to like makes the passage.”
Cold: Dealing at least 100 points of cold damage to the substance causes it to freeze entirely, but this doesn’t remove the barrier, and digging in the frozen substance deals the same amounts of acid damage to implements and flesh noted above. The gelatin thaws completely in only 30 minutes. Dealing fewer than 100 points of cold damage has no effect.
Electricity: Highly conductive, the gelatin actually amplifies electrical energy. Any amount of electricity applied to the gelatin causes an immediate surge of electricity. A chain lightning spell (caster level equal to the original source of the electrical attack; minimum CL 13th) shoots forth from the substance out of a random doorway, striking the nearest target and as many secondary targets as the spell’s effect allows. This effect does not harm or alter the gelatin in any way.
Fire: Every 25 points of fire damage dealt to the gelatin converts a 5-foot cube of the stuff into a poisonous gas that spreads out in a 30-foot-diameter cloud. This gas functions as an inhaled version of tears of death (nasty stuff). The gas dissipates after 3 rounds.
Sonic: Every 25 points of sonic damage dealt to the gelatin causes the stuff occupying a 5-foot- cubic area of the hallway to explode outward in
a 10-foot-radius burst that deals 4d6 points of acid damage to all those in the area of effect (Reflex DC 22 half ).
- - -
Zilchus listens to Flo’s words, and learns that he’s mostly unable to help. ”All I have is a sword,” he comments as if anyone was suddenly going to ask him to produce fire from his backside or icy lasers from his eyes. ”However, if we choose fire, then I can protect us from the poison gas...all of us.”
Zilchus puts his hands on his hips, hoping others have solutions.
"Good enough the winds of Osirion already give us protection to gas. I guess it would be worth from me to try burn all that stuff my friends" Kosei-lion walks up just in front of the obstacle and casts fire snake in an attempt to clean up 60' of corridor and hopping the life bubble to protect him "Walk away just in case my friends" a long tongue of fire emerges from his lion-mouth when he finishes the spell.
Kosei, do you want to do 30' each way (east and west) or 60' one way (and if so, east or west)? Either way I assume you're starting from the south where you are on the map.
I'm also ruling your damage is per 5' square, which seems obvious to me so you'll clear quite a tunnel with one casting.
The bard tilts her head, looking at the pillars, feeling disappointed by the lack of response. She thinks that perhaps nothing actually happened at all. Nidhi floats with her allies, content on any direction as long as she isn't leading.
Stelle looks on, curiously, her lance at the ready.
Why are we burning the acid walls?
The acidic walls burn slowly, shedding a nasty gas as they do so - though the party is well protected.
The gas dissipates, and you see further than you did before, but still see no other exits. Additionally, the gel starts to slowly ooze back into the space. It'll take many hours, maybe even a day, but the tunnel will re-seal eventually.
Unsure what to do, Zilchus waits for smart people to decide things. He still thinks that getting a few adamantine picks and hacking this place apart, brick by brick is the best plan.
Yeah, to provide a bit of guidance, there are lots of other options for you yet. Leaving the topaz pyramid alone, you still have the elemental chambers of air, fire and water to explore.
You can always come back to this chamber with different spells prepared if you feel you must investigating this conundrum.
So, assuming you want to leave the topaz pyramid alone for now, and this room also, where do you head next?
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Kosei-lion licks his paw while he observes how the gel starts to regenerate, sniffs and turns towards the center of the room with the others "My nanny's tales where less annoying than this Kaahbek ooze and repetitiveness things. Ok my heroic friends, we will return with a wall of fire to this place, if-when it is required, if it is required at all..."
"Let's see if we can move those tiles to spell Hastepperut's name" provided everybody is in line with it, Kosei will walk to the air crypt and made up the name.
Zilchus is disappointed by their results in the earth door, but is happy to follow Kosei as the man seems to know his way around (and not just around open tents).
”Good plan, let’s do that.”
The party heads back outside, and up the pyramid to the topmost entrance. The stone staircase leads to a platform jutting from high atop the pyramid’s eastern face. A large, dark block of stone polished to a mirror-like finish blocks entry into the pyramid’s interior. A few dozen golden tiles inlaid in the block of stone surround a symbol of an arrow piercing a cloud, painted in a blue metallic hue. A single hieroglyph is carved into each tile, and a line of smaller hieroglyphs is engraved above the tiles.
As Kosei pointed out, ancient Osiriani hieroglyphs above the tiles read, ”Speak the name of the one to whom this Crypt of Air is dedicated.” The strange blue symbol is that of an erinyes devil from ancient Osirian myth named Hastepperut (gained from a relatively simple, for you, knowledge religion or planes). Some of the hieroglyphs on the inlaid golden tiles can be used to spell Hastepperut’s name, and pressing those tiles (which you do now) cause the stone block to sink into the floor of the platform exposing the corridor beyond.
Beyond the platform is a narrow corridor that turns south almost immediately. A thick, greenish-white mist fills the passage, masking its length. Visibility is limited to 5’ as if effected by the Obscuring Mist spell, though the smoky substance appears otherwise harmless.
" The life bubble might help us pass here. Let me try" Kosei-lion gets 10' into the mist to see if he can survive there comfortably.
Kosei heads into he mist and disappears around the corner as he squeezes into the tunnel. As the mist is harmless, life bubble has no immediate effect. Nor does anything jump out at the powerful lion.
He can indeed survive there comfortably.
Zilchus moves into the mists, his falchion outstretched so that it will help him find obstacles before his face does.
”Air huh? Not surprised that there is mist then,” Zilchus mentions, trying to keep his eyes open as he moves.
Perception
Florence is indeed able to see better than her comrades, but only to 15’ as the mist is definitely magical. You move through it and the tunnel curves northward again. It is at this point that Anubis turns up his nose at a new smell, and Flo is able to identify the air has changed… it is now laced with Nightmare Vapor. Happily though, Kosei’s protections keep you from actually inhaling the stuff.
Another curve to the south and you’re free of the gas! You enter a large open chamber.
Stout pillars carved with hieroglyphs support the ceiling of this grand chamber (40’ to the ceiling). On raised niches (30’ up) in the north and south walls are statues of winged lions, though the forms are oddly distorted. The walls of the chamber are painted with scenes of smiling peasants harvesting wheat as flocks of crows tear bits of flesh from their bleeding bodies.
The entire floor of the hall is painted with a dizzying and confused conglomeration of overlapping arcane writing and symbols in a nauseating mixture of colors. The sound of whistling wind comes from the west, where a balcony overlooks a large open area.
Anubis skitters forward after Kosei Lion and watches him squeeze into the misty tunnel.
"Harum?" He cocks his head as the Lion disappears into the mist. "How do you guys do that, Bynx? It's like your shoulders can detatch or something."
Stelle and Anubis follow the Lion into the mist.
Zilchus moves deeper into the room, gaining a bit of altitude so he can look around.
"Are you guys seeing this? It's like that weirdly angled room from before? You know the one that gave you a headache? Yeah, it's more that," he comments on the weird colors and verve.
Perception
"Like the same as in the same architect? If that's the case, they share the same purpose." What that purpose was, Nidhi couldn't say. The balcony looks like an appealing place in comparison, but the bard sticks close to her allies.
... statues of winged lions, though the forms are oddly distorted ... smiling peasants harvesting wheat as flocks of crows tear bits of flesh from their bleeding bodies ...
"What the -- " Stelle stammers a little.
"Are you guys seeing this?
"I'm trying NOT to!"
The sound of whistling wind comes from the west, where a balcony overlooks a large open area.
"The writing on the floor looks like it's got arcane characters and symbols in it though, so I'm sure there's a purpose to it. Maybe I can figure out just what it might be..."
"Tell me it doesn't indicate something to the west..." Stelle mutters patiently. "If it's another weird devil, we'll just have to vanquish it. Again."
The lion squeezes through the corridor with feline agility. By when he arrives to the chamber he seems dizzy "I have come to feel crappy today. A horrible headache my friends"
That said the lions take the lion's attention and so he contemplates the art "Look, this is the harvest tradition by the end of summer, from the waters of the river Sphinx. Mmm... maybe the lion statuette we picked up previously might fit here somewhere..." then Kosei advance looking at the figures trying to find a matching pattern, while closing up near Zilchus.