GM Euan's Mummy's Mask (Inactive)

Game Master Euan

"Let me try to help in this " Kosei casts wall of stone trying to bridge the gap between the group position and Zilchus.

”Thoth, you mangy lizard. How did you get to be in a pantheon with the mighty Sobek, I’ll never understand,” Zilchus grouches zealously at the statue. ”Worshipping the moon is like worshipping the reflection of your ass. And it makes you one too.”

Waiting to see what Nidhi and Flo do, but if we need to rest up to prepare more flight magics for this room, we should retreat and do that.

Kosei, that's a 180' length to get to that platform. It's some 30-40' away, and down 140'. I don't think you're that powerful a caster...

"Pythagoras?" Kosei turns back his head "Whom is whispering behind my head? Whom is that one?!"

The lion-man growls then adds "Well... let's try to wind walk it friends... If that is not possible, then I will have to commune with the spirits of nature for a quarter hour to unlock the mysteries required for us to walk in the air"

That said, Kosei attempts to become a gas himself and fly forward looking for Zilchus. If successful, he shapes back to solid at Zilchus platform.

If the winds turn him back, he will then have to rest 15 minutes.

Wind walk will work, though there is the 'cool off' period of 5 rounds to change form, so if you find hostility on either end, you'll be out for a bit.

That said, the party is able to move to the lower platform without incident by this manner if you wish. The winds are fierce, so the going is slow, but it's not far.

"I propose we do it in groups of two, with Zilchus scouting forward with the first couple, so if we find an aggression, the other two may at least help somehow my friends" Kosei proposes while he tests the method first one after Zilchus.

Unless I'm forgetting something I think we should all still have Wind Walk on us, right?

"Not a bad idea," Florence agrees. "Um...if push comes to shove I can fly under my own power for a short time - I think you've all seen me do it before. But I can't give other people the power to fly and I don't think I could carry anyone. Well, maybe Anubis or Nidhi. Maybe. I'd rather not test that, though."

Assuming that everyone is still able to walk the winds for a time longer, Florence begins to shift herself while Zilchus and Kosei move out of sight. Then she'll proceed forward with either Stelle or Nidhi, or wait her turn and proceed last, whichever order seems best.

Zilchus waits ‘patiently’ for others, only occasionally air-stomping over to see what was taking so long, then air-stomping back to see if the statue had moved at all, then air-stomping back to glare at the laggards, then air-stomping in place as he waits ‘patiently’. He’s being totally patient, you see?

The party forms into mist, and descends to a lower level…

The two short hallways that lead into the next, rather vast chamber do much to cut down on the wind, and the noise, from the outer column. Hieroglyph-covered pillars support the vaulted ceiling of this long hall. Paintings of ibises grace both the floor and the walls. A sarcophagus sits to the east in a small alcove flanked by basalt statues depicting imposing seated figures. The writings will take some time to read through, though those who speak ancient Osiriani can read it without trouble.

You also find a scattering of ancient bones surrounding the sarcophagus. The bones show signs of torture, vast, lengthy, painful torture. The seated statues depict Hakotep and Neferuset, the pharaoh’s wife. The sarcophagus sits on a limestone platform and is made of precious woods inlaid with decorative strips of gold. The lid of the sarcophagus depicts an adolescent boy holding a crook and flail and adorned with a prince’s crown.

K. nobility: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Kosei lion strides after Zilchus "No no no Zilchus my friend, you are completely wrong here my friend. The statue is unusual, and not, Thoth. Rather Hakotep’s only son by his queen Neferuset, a boy named Hakmothes, who was also known as the Ibis Prince because of his scholarly bent. You do understand my friend"

The Garundi passes his hand along the statue "We might have found the sarcophagus of the boy" and he points at the archeological piece "We probably can study this afterwards, what you think? There is some text here"

The lion is fine either way to wait or study now. He moves closer to the sarcophagus and casts detect magic to see if it is magical. Also he looks for traps as he advances "Sarcophagus path might be a trap anyway"
Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 39

"Thank you for the healing, Florence! And thanks for the wind walk Kosei!"

She turns to the others. "Let's just all go. If that big lug can manage it, I'm betting we all can. If you rather, you two go. I'll follow along with Anubis."

Stelle takes the time to read once she arrives.

...
...
...
"Oh, so, this Hakotep had a wife Neferuset! ...."
...
...
...
"They had a son they named 'Hakmothes'..."
...
...
...
"They wanted him to be a great warrior..."
...
...
... .... ........................
"But instead, it turns out he was more of Ben-Type writing treatises in history and religion, and on the very first hunt they forced the boy to go on -- he ends up getting killed by a manticore named 'Ooh chee pan thees'... or something."

"This must be his sarcophagus, but look at those bones! Do you suppose those are the remains of people trying to grave rob?!" Stelle chooses not to approach the sarcophagus. "Kosei, are you sure you want to do that?" She cautions Kosei has he begins his own approach.

Something inside the sarcophagus has a moderate Transmutation aura, but there are no other visible auras.

As you get closer you can see the bones seem to be more arrayed here, rather than collapsed here. For example there's a clear path to the gold-clad coffin from the front, but the rest of area is covered by the dead. Kosei finds no traps.

"No no no Zilchus my friend, you are completely wrong here my friend..."

Zilchus pffts in response.

"How could I be wrong about that god? Look at the weak chin. The flabby chest. The lack of a fierce warrior gaze. That's clearly that weak ass quasi-deity, Thoth," Zilchus rambles correctly. "Doesn't have any of the might of a true god, like Sobek, the Raging River."

Moving on and still not convinced, he reads the Pillars and confirms how right he is.

"See? See? This pillar tells the story of weak boy, just like Thoth. And so that's why that statue is out there. To link the two. It's very clear if you think about it."

Zilchus will examine the sarcophagus for traps.

1d20 + 25 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 25 + 2 = 40 Perception

"Maybe they're the bones of the generals that he went on the hunt with," Florence suggests quietly, having been able to read along as Stelle did. "I'm sure Hakotep and his queen blamed them for not taking better care of their son...instead of themselves for forcing him into doing something he wasn't suited to do."

By now, the glance she shoots at Zilchus, expecting a retort of some sort, is almost reflexive.

"There's nothing wrong with being a warrior if that's what you want to do and if you're willing to work for it. But some people just aren't meant for it. Some people aren't meant to be scholars. People should focus on their strengths, first, before worrying about weaknesses."

Though she feels she's got a pretty good hypothesis on who the scattered bones belong to, Florence kneels down for a closer look as it occurs to her that they might also be the bones of the manticore that killed the Prince.

Heal: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Nidhi floats close to the sarcophagus. (See map.) "The sarcophagus doesn't appear to be trapped... That's a first?" Nidhi frowns, "I'm pretty sure it's trapped but I can't seem to find any trap."

Perception (Traps): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39

Nobody finds any traps, after a very thorough search. I was half tempted to add one just due to the thoroughness of the search, but alas, reality intervened. The sarcophagus is untrapped.

Florence also takes a gander at the bones, and while she doesn't learn much other than what I mentioned above, they are all humanoid as far as she can tell, not monstrous.

”Moldy old bones. Are you sure he wasn’t called Ben?” Zilchus jokes unfunnily, but funny to himself. Ben. Ha. That bag of bones. ”Is that all we got in here? Man, this place makes no sense. Why did they invites us to come in here? This is just silly. Didn’t want to tour of the house, we just wanted to kill the owner.”

Zilchus waits for the party to want to move on.

"No no no Zilchus my friend" Kosei negates with the right paw "This cannot be bones of god. What god have you ever seen to leave bones behind? Why would pharaoh had close a tomb of a god? It is clearly son. And because son was not important it seems, it was left here without traps so it could be sacked, I told you my friend"

"RoooarrrRRR! Perhaps everything left here is just memory of a child" the lion seems to lose interest and starts to walk back undoing the previous walk in "We might want to check strange circle in the floor of the windy room"

"There's nothing wrong with being a warrior if that's what you want to do and if you're willing to work for it. But some people just aren't meant for it. Some people aren't meant to be scholars. People should focus on their strengths, first, before worrying about weaknesses."

Stelle nods. "Parental pressure!" She lowers her voice to mimic that of her fathers. " 'Stelle, books! Here's some books from the library. Study. Learn. Here's some on Library Science itself. Someday this Library will be all yours! You will run it when I'm gone,'" she returns to her normal voice in response. "Yes, of course. Just as soon as Annie and I retire from clearing out the region's hostiles. Yes, of course." She rolls her eyes. "I studied some and I respect my father, but I don't think I'm really at all cut out for 'Library Science'," she lowers her voice again for the last two words.

"The sarcophagus doesn't appear to be trapped... That's a first?" Nidhi frowns, "I'm pretty sure it's trapped but I can't seem to find any trap."

"That IS weird," Stelle agrees. "Though, looking at the bones I thought we might just crumble to dust if we touched the sarcophagus, so maybe that was the plan, and they didn't think with their special aesthetics here that the needed more. ... Then again, maybe it is the guardian statues that do the dirty work." She eyes the statues suspiciously.

"This is just silly. Didn't want to tour of the house, we just wanted to kill the owner."

"We could be silly too. We could draw the owner out to us. Let's have a 'house party' and use this here sarcophagus as a buffet table." Stelle frowns at her own suggestion. "Nevermind, that's too silly, and slightly gross."

Stelle nearly falls off of Anubis when Kosei Lion roars. "Careful, Kosei Lion. Your roar goes right through me! Yes, why don't we check out the circle?"

Leaving the crypt behind, the party forms into mist, and descends to a lower level…

The thunder rumbles above as you drop the rest of the way down this some 350’ shaft. You’re whirled around a bit by the wind, but you reach the bottom safely, and without incident - though safeguards were taken. I’m assuming you pair off as before to form into mist with Florence and Kosei going together and Stelle and Annubis going together. Zilchus can currently air walk down and Nidhi has her carpet so they provide cover.

The stylized image of an owl adorns the floor at the bottom of the shaft, along with an iron disk 20 feet across set in the very center. There is no apparent means of opening or removing the disk, which has an aura of strong abjuration magic when checked. Four large hieroglyphs are etched in its iron surface, matching those on the stone blocks that seal the entrance to each crypt: a blue symbol of an arrow piercing a cloud (Air Crypt), an amorphous green blob (Water Crypt), a golden scarab (Earth Crypt), and a flaming lash (Fire Crypt).

Ancient Osiriani hieroglyphs along the outer edge of the disk read, “Only those who traverse the Fourfold Path may pass. Let those who would circumvent it suffer the full fury of the Four Elemental Storms.” The disk is protected by some sort of antilife shell - as you’re unable to get within a few feet of it.

It occurs to Florence (and maybe others) that the control pyramid you found in the Earth Crypt might open at least a part of this gateway, though there may be other ways to circumvent it.

"I wonder..." Florence muses aloud as she studies the iron disk, "...I think maybe I know what that control pyramid we found in the other crypt does. I think it might open or unseal a portion of this disk! There must be one of those in every crypt and using them all must be what this 'Fourfold Path' is!"

She smiles, happy to have part of the puzzle fall into place. "And using all four control pyramids will probably open the way to Hakotep. Or maybe the means to bring this thing down from the sky - for good."

"Ah! I think you are very very right Florence my friend" Kosei studies the hieroglyphs "The opening stuff on the tiny pyramid surely referred to this. Probably there are similar stuffs in other elemental sides of this structure..."

The Garundi imposts his voice as he recalls aloud "'If you wish to meet He who wields the Crook and Flail of Kings, you must demonstrate your worthiness by traversing the Fourfold Path - Walk on the Wind, Breathe in the Water, Swim through the Soil, and Dance in the Fire. Only those sorely tested may come into the divine presence of the Most Beloved Son of Set' those were the words of Ain-Mekh, Herald of Hakotep" then he moves his head affirmatively "We probably shall explore the rest of this complex. Something might be here to open the Fourfold Path"

Looking up Kosei adds "Perhaps there is something hidden in the ceiling. We should explore there too"

Zilchus listens to wise Kosei and nods. ”But it seems to me then that the air controlly thing must be around here someplace, right? Let’s try to find it, huh?”

Zilchus thinks to check the ceiling is a good plan and begins to air walk in that direction.

Zilchus leaves the party briefly. Following Kosei’s suggestion he disappears back into the weather of the column. As he approaches the ceiling, passing the platforms on the way, the weather grows more robust, and hostile, as the electricity arcs through these clouds.

Lightning Bolt: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 6, 6, 2, 3) = 25 DC 15 reflex for half

He soon reaches the top, though the ceiling is quite hard to discern through the clouds (just 5’ visibility for the last 20’ or so). He does not immediately find anything of note (with a take-10 perception). How long does Zilchus remain to search the area the GM asks casually as the hairs on Zilchus' arm stand on end...

Once Zilchus curses are heard coming from the hostile ceiling Kosei arcs an eyebrow "Ah, I see, it was perhaps not wise to venture in the sky here after all..." he looks around at the others "Do you think he is ok, shall we try help him my adventurous friends?"

How long does Zilchus remain to search the area the GM asks casually as the hairs on Zilchus' arm stand on end...

Zilchus ponders how to react. He casts Resist Energy (electricity...guessing)

As Zilchus is a tremendous lucksack, he takes his damn time to examine the area to make sure he and the party hasn't missed anything. At least 3 rounds for Detect Magic and examining auras.

1d20 + 25 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 25 + 2 = 30 Perception
6d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 1, 1, 2) = 11 lightning vs. Resist 30 electricity

1d20 + 25 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 25 + 2 = 46 Perception
6d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 4, 2, 1) = 15 lightning vs. Resist 30 electricity

1d20 + 25 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 25 + 2 = 42 Perception
6d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3, 2, 2, 3) = 17 lightning vs. Resist 30 electricity

As Zilchus ascends back up the tunnel, Florence nods to Kosei. "Yeah, I think we could probably return to the Earth Crypt and activate the control pyramid there without any issues. The one here...well, we'll have to find it."

"And I'm sure it'll have some sort of guardian when we find it..." she adds, eyes wandering upward towards the howling gale.

The wind seems to whip at Zilchus ever more fiercely - as if it knew it couldn't affect him and was raging at its failure.

He still has some difficulty observing due to the weather conditions (-4 to perception and limited visibility), but he takes his time and makes certain there is nothing at the ceiling but raw weather.

Zilchus - it'll take you about a minute to cover the ceiling, but I'm confident you suffer no harm during that time.

"Well, that was *enlightening*," Zilchus says with a goofy smile as he returns to the party, no f&$~s to give about how funny he is. "Nothing there."

He looks around, happy to explore more while he's protected.

"Where to next? What are we missing?" he moves to the north. Moved on map, but not sure where else to go.

Kosei nods relieved when Zilchus returns "Now you look brilliant Commander my friend"

And agreeing with the man Kosei gets into gaseous form to wind walk to the northern platform "We can later explore east before we seek for the Earth crypt once more"

The Garundi also examines the brown thing blocking the pass to the north.
Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 39
K. dungeonering/planes: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Spellcraft+detect magic: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

The party passes for gas as they rise up to the upper platform. Floating above this polished limestone balcony are roiling storm clouds, dark and forbidding, that occasionally flash with light and let loose ominous peals of thunder. A huge, dark block of stone fills an archway to the north. The block is covered in carved hieroglyphs, with a sizable indentation in its center about the size and shape of the mask of the forgotten pharaoh.

The hieroglyphs, in ancient Osiriani, read, ”The Ibis Prince makes clear the path.”

There are transmutation and conjuration magics on the stone block, though Kosei is not sure what they mean.

When the group reaches the dark stone block, Florence also attempts to do her due diligence examining the thing.

Detect Magic + Spellcraft: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31
Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (18) + 24 = 42

"So I wonder if you have to actually put the mask there or if you can just sort of, um, put your face that's wearing the mask on it?" Florence muses aloud as she studies the block.

Florence too studies the block and finds that the magics on the block are, largely, like the ones on the outer blocks. Most of the magics exist to shift the block when the right things are done, but this one has a twist. When the block is opened, something is summoned. She's not sure what, but there's a lot of juice in that spell, so it's likely something powerful.

"It would seem we will have to open the Prince coffer after all..." Kosei looks back "We can explore west before going back to South "

Zilchus nods at Kosei, moving back to go west or South.

"Now, I kind of wish Ben were here. He might definitely be annoying, but he'd probably be blathering about what we should do next. Do you want me smash the coffer now?"

One vote to try someplace new, and another to head back to the sarcophagus. Where would the group like to go first?

"The Ibis Prince makes clear the path.” Stelle reads aloud.

"It would seem we will have to open the Prince coffer after all..."

Stelle sits pensively in the saddle. "Hmm, maybe it's not -- you know -- the mask it needs. Kosei's on to something. Maybe there's one in Hakmothes's sarcophagus room, possibly in the sarcophagus itself."

The group, for now, heads back to the sarcophagus and eyes the coffin. It still appears to be untrapped, and while Zilchus may yet prefer destruction, the lid looks like it does come off with enough strength.

Zilchus, after instructing everyone to get well back and while his falchion dangles from his wrist, does offer strength to the lid in hopes of opening it.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 = 27 Str Check

”URP!” He utters with bulging veins.

The lid comes off with a vengeance. So quickly does it that Zilchus is surprised and very nearly throws it to the floor. Turns out, other than the gold inlay which helps weigh it down - it’s not very heavy.

Within is a pristine mummy with a beautiful silver funerary mask. Florence is able to note that the mask carries a moderate transmutation aura in addition to its impressive nature (worth 4,200gp).

The group senses no traps within the sarcophagus, after what I imagine is a very thorough search…

Kosei ventures to touch the mask to try identify it "Aha! So see... there is this mask after all... this shall show the path forward"
Spellcraft with detect magic: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

"Mmm... are you sure this thing is magical? I would say this only have a shiny self-cleaning utility aura Florence my smart friend" Kosei raises back his hand and indeed thoroughly checks the coffer while the others try to identify the mask magics.
Perception take 20: 20 + 22 = 42

Kosei learns nothing more from the mask, and a thorough search of the coffin reveals nothing further, but he did hear the jangle of jewelry under the mummy wrappings - if he wants to desecrate the body.

Florence, DMPC, studies the mask further but is unsure of the magics as well. In the end she determines it could be the key to the doorway above.

Stelle shrugs. "There's only one way to find out."

She gingerly lifts the mummy Prince's mask off of the mummy Prince and carries it to The Block, where she shoves it into the mask indentation.

If nothing happens, she suggests, "Would someone please who isn't already wearing a mask and who isn't a lion try using the receptacle while wearing this mask?"

If it doesn't come off the mummy she says, "O.K., he comes with then," and (likely with help) lifts the whole mummy out of the sarcophagus and props it up against the indentation in The Block.

"Why yes, I'm not a lion, just lion-hearted and prideful, and not wearing a mask," Zilchus says overly-confidently, definitely not masking any insecurities.

He will do as Stelle suggests if nothing else works.

"Surely a person wouldn't have to be *wearing* it while trying to open the path, but stranger things have happened," Florence shrugs, watching to see if Stelle's attempt with the mask will work.

If nothing happens, she suggests, "Would someone please who isn't already wearing a mask and who isn't a lion try using the receptacle while wearing this mask?"

"Surely a person wouldn't have to be *wearing* it while trying to open the path, but stranger things have happened," Florence shrugs, watching to see if Stelle's attempt with the mask will work.

Nidhi touches her mask, "masks can be helpful." Nidhi offers: "I'll try opening it with my mask I'm not interested in that other one." She'll attempt to open the receptacle after Stelle if she chooses to do so. If not, she'll still volunteer.

The party follows Stelle, carrying just the mask for now, as the group makes the painstaking journey back to the upper deck. Resolidifying, Stelle rides up to the giant stone block, and presses the mask in the receptacle to see what happens.

There’s a shift, and a shudder, as the stone block begins, slowly… very slowly… to descend into the ground. It will be some time before the block has shifted, even enough to see past it, and maybe a minute or two before it has cleared the hallway.

At the same moment however, there’s an enormous thunderclap from the top of the column, and two giant electrifying birds (image) are summoned in the clouds. The wind shifts and seems to intensify in a swirl around the gargantuan beasts as their wingtips seem to reach from wall to wall. These enormous birds have feathers the color of a stormy sky, a resemblance enhanced by the lightning that dances over their bodies. They screech in unison as they fully form.

The creatures screech again as they fly lazy circles and launch bolts of lighting, with the added power of thunder, upon Nidhi, currently hovering over the platform.

ranged touch thunderbolt: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 damage (electric + sonic): 6d6 + 6d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 5, 5, 1) + (3, 6, 6, 3, 2, 5) = 46
ranged touch thunderbolt: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 damage (electric + sonic): 6d6 + 6d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 4, 4, 3) + (3, 4, 4, 5, 2, 2) = 36

Nidhi is hit by one of the bolts as thunder fills the air and lighting blinds the eyes momentarily (no game effect).

- Round 1 -
Guardian Thunderbirds - 26
Florence - 24
Zilchus -19
Nidhi - 13 (-46hp)
Kosei - 4+
Stelle - 4-

(So it occurs to me that my initiative rolls are off now because I added two attacks. But I'm not changing the post. We'll just re-use a couple rolls.)

Next up - everyone!

Round 1

Zilchus moves up to the right bird and swings stoutly with his falchion, calling upon the Raging River to overpower the farty air.

1d20 + 20 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 20 + 2 + 3 = 32 to hit; (+hero,+DF)
1d10 + 23 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 23 + 3 = 28 adamantine slashing damage. (+DF)

"So it worked my friend!" Kosei stoic happiness quickly disappears as the birds perform their majestic appearance "Well... it seems this place is full of electrical rays everywhere..."

The lion says arcane words casting communal resist energy and quickly moves around the platform touching everyone there with his nose to protect them against electricity.
30 resist electricity for 150/4 ~= 37 min each except Zilchus who has his own protection

Kosei effects:
longstrider 13h
greater magic fang 13h
wind walk (everyone) 13 h
life bubble 4h (everyone)
resist energy 37 min (all but Zilchus)
freedom of movement (Nidhi)
barkskin 140 min (Zilchus)

Round 1, Init 4-

Stelle frowns at the overgrown corvids. Why is everything so oversized and in flight? "Something tells me this Pharaoh frequently felt that he to over compensate for something..."

She can't help but chortle as Kosei protects her from electricity. "Hoo! Thanks Kosei -- your whiskers tickle. Your nose is much softer than I expected."

She grants everyone a +2 dodge bonus to AC for a round (standard), and preps Death from Below (move).