GM Euan's Mummy's Mask (Inactive)

Game Master Euan

Florence throws down her retribution hex, hoping to limit the damage Ain-Mekh can do to others by turning some of it upon herself. Stelle focuses on brown, killing it, while Zilchus kills blue. Kosei fireballs the southern portion of the chamber, burning many though more slightly than he'd have liked.

Pink and purple both charge their respective targets Stelle and Zilchus.
pink khopesh on Stelle: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 23 + 2 = 26 damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
purple khopesh on Zilchus: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 23 + 2 = 30 damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Ain-Mekh finally closes in, avoiding the front line, and going for the skin of Florence!

Claw on Florence: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (9) + 27 = 36 damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 1, 6) + 11 = 22

”Your skin shall be mine!” Ain-Mekh screams as she rakes into Florence with her nails. She also heals a little of the fire damage that had burned her flesh so recently (fast healing 5).

- Round 4 -
Ain-Mekh - 21 (-13hp)
Akhumen red - 21 (destroyed)
Akhumen blue - 21 (destroyed)
Akhumen green - 21 (destroyed)
Akhumen brown - 21 (destroyed)
Akhumen pink - 21 (-82hp)
Akhumen purple - 21 (-82hp)
Florence - 19+ (-22hp)
Stelle - 18 (-28hp)
Anubis - 18
Zilchus - 17 (-28hp)
Kosei - 16

Next up - everyone!

Kosei steps back and very angry he hits the floor with his foot calling for a thunderstomp "No! You now leave away Florence! She is too smart for you Ain-Mekh!"
Thunderstomp trip attempt BMC+BoF: 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 24 + 2 = 44
I am guessing BoF also applies to BMC

HP 163/163 AC 31 TAC 16

Round 4, Initiative 19

Florence staggers back as Ain-Mekh comes for her skin, thankful for the extra vitality granted by her own magics.

"My skin stays where it belongs - on me! You need to quit pressing your luck," she hisses as she begins casting another spell, attempting to afflict Ain-Mekh with ill luck.

Flo takes a 5 ft. step back and casts Ill Omen~

Round 3

BoF to attacks.

"Hey! HEY! Leave her skin alone! She needs that not to look ugly! What is wrong with you!" Zilchus roars hacks at all the skellies near him. Starting with purple, then 5' pink.

1d20 + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 38 to hit; (+hero, +holy,+DF)
2d6 + 27 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 3) + 27 + (2, 1) + 3 = 42 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

1d20 + 16 + 2 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 16 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 34 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 27 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4) + 27 + (5, 3) + 3 = 45 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 24 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 27 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 3) + 27 + (5, 6) + 3 = 50 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

BoF:
1d20 + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 36 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 27 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 5) + 27 + (1, 1) + 3 = 40 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

Round 4, Init 18

"No! You now leave away Florence! She is too smart for you Ain-Mekh!"

Hmm, going after Mehk's vanity? Stelle nods. "Believe you me, he knows what he's talking about!"

AoO Purple: 1d20 + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 27 +Hero, +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 5 + 8 + (6, 4) = 32 +PA, Holy

AoO Pink: 1d20 + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 39 +Hero, +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 5 + 8 + (2, 4) = 26 +PA, Holy

Anubis bites Pink!

Bite: 1d20 + 10 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 33 +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 6 = 10
Bite: 1d20 + 5 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 15 +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 6 = 10
I think my 6-sider's stacked.

Stelle directs her lance at Ain Mekh!

Lance: 1d20 + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 42 +Hero, +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 5 + 8 + (1, 4) = 22 +PA, Holy
Lance: 1d20 + 11 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 25 +Hero, +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 5 + 8 + (5, 2) = 26 +PA, Holy
Lance: 1d20 + 6 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 20 +Hero, +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 5 + 8 + (4, 6) = 31 +PA, Holy
Lance: 1d20 + 1 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 22 +Hero, +BoF, +Flank, -PA
for Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 5 + 8 + (1, 6) = 24 +PA, Holy

+4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear (Everyone within 60 feet)
+2 morale bonus on attack rolls made as part of a charge(Everyone within 60 feet)
+2 against charm and compulsion spells and effects (Everyone within 60 feet)
+5 circumstance bonus on melee attack rolls against Ain Mekh (everyone)

Florence moves away a little and asks Desna to change Ain-Mekh’s luck! (How many d20 rolls? I’m guessing 4). Stelle nearly drops pink on the AoO, but Anubis finishes it off while Stelle gets in a hit on Ain-Mekh (would have been two but she's not yet prone). Zilchus finishes off purple handily (and has a move if you wish to take it). Kosei slams his foot on the floor and manages, just barely to trip her (CMD 43)! Ain-Mekh’s large form stumbles and falls to the floor, prone.

Ain-Mekh writhes on the floor, splattering blood everywhere as she claws at Florence, lunging across the floor to reach her!

Claw on Florence: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 27 - 4 = 41 Claw on Florence: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 27 - 4 = 27 damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (3, 6, 6) + 11 = 26
Claw on Florence: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 27 - 4 = 31 Claw on Florence: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 27 - 4 = 31 damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (3, 5, 6) + 11 = 25

Rake on Florence (extra damage): 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (2, 5, 2) + 11 = 20 Bleed (1 con drain - stopped through any magical healing or a heal check), Seize Skin (Fort DC 25 or lose your skin, becoming staggered and 1 con drain - stopped only by regeneration or heal spells/effects)

Ain-Mekh holds Florence's skin over her head from the floor, "MY SKIN!" she shrieks insanely. She seems so happy...

- Round 5 -
Ain-Mekh - 21 (-35hp, challenged (-2AC), prone, ill omen 2/4?)
Akhumen pink - 21 (-108hp)
Akhumen purple - 21 (-82hp)
Florence - 19+ (-93hp)
Stelle - 18 (-28hp)
Anubis - 18
Zilchus - 17 (-28hp)
Kosei - 16

Next up - everyone!

Round 3

BoF to attacks.

Zilchus looks at the skinless wonder who is trying to take Florence's skin. He looks incredulous.

"Why are you trying to take her skin? You had some perfectly good skin you just sloughed off!? What is wrong with you?" Zilchus yells as he hacks at the (attack on) titan. He grunts with exertion.

1d20 + 24 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 24 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 50 to hit; (+hero, +holy,+DF,+Stelle,+grunt)
2d6 + 28 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 6) + 28 + (6, 3) + 3 = 52 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 15 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 36 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 28 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 28 + (5, 3) + 3 = 43 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 33 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 28 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 28 + (1, 5) + 3 = 47 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

BoF:
1d20 + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 51 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 27 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 27 + (2, 3) + 3 = 41 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

Round 5, Init 18

Stelle sighs at the horror, having had enough. She moves 20 more feet up (25' up total), reaches out and shakes her banner.

Stelle grants Florence an additional saving throw against any one spell or effect that is targeting her.

Kosei gasps in horror as Ain-Mekh takes Florence face "No!" not willing for this to happen, the man darts around the corner trying to dodge the enemy's attacks.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21

As he reaches Florence, he tends his hand to her touching his face to regenerate it with the blessing of the salamander "Let the Sun regenerate your skin" as he does, his Armband of the Golden Serpent snatches to reach Florence without creating more attack opportunities.
+5 fast healing for 16 rounds so Florence will heal overtime, among other blessings

The Garundi sets himself to cover Florence, avoiding looks from others and granting her extra protection from the enemy attacks.

HP 163/163 AC 31 TAC 16

Round 5, Initiative 19

Fort (DC 25): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

"Aieeee! Get off me you FREAK!" Florence screams as Ain-Mekh continues raking with her claws, drawing lots of blood in the process. Luckily, she somehow manages to maintain hold of her own skin - or what's left of it, anyway. But still, her False Life protections are gone and she's quite injured.

Out of desperation, she activates her ring and begins to rapidly blink in and out of reality before stepping slightly behind Kosei as he (and Stelle) come to her aid.
______________

Standard to activate her ring~

Ain-Mekh lashes out at Stelle for her impudence (AoO) drawing a little more blood.
Claw on Stell: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 27 - 4 = 36 Claw on Stell: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 27 - 4 = 42 damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 4, 2) + 11 = 21

Having combat reflexes, she also lashes out at Kosei when he goes by a little later, though she misses.
Claw on Kosei: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 27 - 4 = 41 Claw on Kosei: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 27 - 4 = 24 damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (2, 4, 4) + 11 = 21

Florence begins to blink in and out of reality. Stelle gives Florence another chance to avoid losing her skin as she climbs into the air to prepare a counter attack. Zilchus rips into Ain-Mekh again and again, aided by the wide variety of AC reductions and his own prowess, he connects nearly every time! Kosei gives Florence a boost of healing, countering the bleed effect and giving her some extra skin…

Ain-Mekh sputters, bloody phlegm flying from her lips, ”My skin… my skin… MY SKIN!” as she tries again.

Claw on Florence: 1d20 + 27 - 8 ⇒ (11) + 27 - 8 = 30 damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 6, 2) + 11 = 23 low is bad for me: 1d100 ⇒ 77
Claw on Florence: 1d20 + 27 - 8 ⇒ (18) + 27 - 8 = 37 damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) + 11 = 20 low is bad for me: 1d100 ⇒ 17

Displacement prevents an attack, so no skin is peeled away this time. Ain-Mekh begins a loud whine, quiet at first, but building in intensity. She's still flopping around on the floor, suffering the effects of being prone.

- Round 6 -
Ain-Mekh - 21 (-165hp, challenged (-2AC), prone)
Florence - 19+ (-111hp, fast healing 5)
Stelle - 18 (-49hp)
Anubis - 18
Zilchus - 17 (-28hp)
Kosei - 16

Next up - everyone!

Round 4

BoF to attacks.

Zilchus continues to hack at the skin thief.

1d20 + 24 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 24 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 50 to hit; (+hero, +holy,+DF,+Stelle,+grunt)
2d6 + 28 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 28 + (6, 6) + 3 = 49 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 51 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 28 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 28 + (3, 1) + 3 = 42 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 33 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 28 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 28 + (2, 6) + 3 = 42 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

BoF:
1d20 + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 23 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 48 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 27 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 27 + (1, 1) + 3 = 38 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

Pot crit:
1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 = 53 to hit; (+hero, +holy)
2d6 + 28 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5) + 28 + 3 = 40 adamantine slashing damage. (+holy)

"Ouch!" Kosei complains when Aunt Meck claws him on his bold movement.

"You do not have to worry Florence, your skin will be shinny like the first day once we are done with this!" the Garundi attempts to touch her with his healing hands in the middle of one of her dimensional jumps.
Heal (healing hands): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31 +40 hp
Misschance 50%: 1d100 ⇒ 7

HP 142/163 AC 31 TAC 16

Round 6, Init 18

Stelle braces herself, and charges Ain Mekh from above.

Lance: 1d20 + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 - 4 + 5 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 - 4 + 5 + 4 + 1 = 36 +Hero, +BoF,-PA, Prone, Higher Ground
for Damage: 3d6 + 9 + 15 + 24 + 6d6 + 48 ⇒ (1, 3, 4) + 9 + 15 + 24 + (2, 2, 1, 6, 1, 2) + 48 = 118 +PA, Holy, Challenge

+4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear (Everyone within 60 feet)
+2 morale bonus on attack rolls made as part of a charge(Everyone within 60 feet)
+2 against charm and compulsion spells and effects (Everyone within 60 feet)
+5 circumstance bonus on melee attack rolls against Ain Mekh (everyone)

Stelle descends from above pinning her now dead torso to the flagstones beneath her as Zilchus hacks up the pieces to make sure she’s dead.

Kosei, Florence can drop her displacement (I think) so your touch will work if she does/can. Florence, remember too you have fast healing 5 for like the next 15 rounds or so.

Florence - 19+ (-111hp, fast healing 5)
Stelle - 18 (-49hp)
Anubis - 18
Zilchus - 17 (-28hp)
Kosei - 16

We are out of initiative.

As her companions close in and hack Ain-Mekh to shreds Florence breathes a sigh of relief and switches her ring back off, allowing Kosei to heal some of her immediate injuries.

"Oogh...that's...that's not happened in awhile, has it?" Florence groans, feeling a bit dizzy from the blood loss. She looks down at the mess that's been left from bleeding her own blood and then up at Zilchus and Stelle.

"I'm not sure how either of you can stand it, being up on the front lines and having this happen on a regular basis. You've got my respect because, um, I don't think I could do it...even if I'd been blessed with a physique for fighting."

Luckily, Kosei's healing touch combined with the blessing he'd given her moments earlier seem to be doing a grand job of mending her wounds; the worst of them are gone and the remainder slowly but surely knit back together.

"Thank you, Kosei. I'm feeling a lot better now, so don't worry about me," Florence continues, offering her companion a grateful smile. "Come on, let's have a look around..."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"I'm not sure how either of you can stand it, being up on the front lines and having this happen on a regular basis. You've got my respect because, um, I don't think I could do it...even if I'd been blessed with a physique for fighting."

Zilchus shrugs, thinking about the bottles of booze in his bag.

”Ah, you get used to it. They are just scars, after all,” Zilchus looks down at the scars that other people say killed him, but nah, he was just knocked out for a bit. Everything was just fine back then, no doubt. He waits patiently for Florence to heal up, knowing it can be a painful wait.

When she’s ready, Zilchus will offer her a hand up. ”Take your time, we can wait. That looked painful,” he adds.

When Florence looks fine, Zilchus will search the area with Detect Magic.

1d20 + 26 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 26 + 2 = 45 Perception

On one of Florence's blinks to this plane of existence, Kosei touches and delivers his healing hand. He nods satisfied the woman's skin looks much better once more.

He then proceeds to heal the worst of his, Zilchus and Stelle's wounds "Yes, I cannot stress much how help it is you both protect us my friends. Nidhi should have known better we have nothing to worry while you are here to protect us my friends. She could be still here singing and making these dread moments more cheerful for us my friends"
Heal (healer's hands): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (2) + 25 = 27 +24 hp for Kosei
Heal (healer's hands): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (18) + 25 = 43 +40 hp for Zilchus
Heal (healer's hands): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45 +40 hp for Stelle

Only then the Garundi helps in searching the grand hall.
Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 26

HP 163/163
Healer's Hands remaining: 12/16

"Oh, Florence!" she cries, galloping over to Kosei's side. "Are you O.K.?! I mean Ow! I've never seen someone --" Stelle tries to come to grips with what she just witnessed and finds she as at a loss for words," -- anything like what just happened! Yes! You're going to be just fine!"

She thanks Kosei as he heals her, a little uncomfortable with Florence's praise on her and Zilchus's front line abilities.

"I... I guess I'll do whatever is necessary to protect my friends, my family, my home -- but this is all I know. I wish I could fly, and create snow, and little sancutaries -- that's neat!"

"And yes," she says agreeing with Kosei. "I do miss Nidhi's voice and other talents. Do you suppose she'll change her mind and come back?"

+5 to Zilchus's Perception roll.

After taking a breath for a minute or two to heal, the party then fans out and searches the chamber.

On the mummified Akhumen, you find a variety of miscellaneous lesser gear along with Horn lamellar armor +1 (x6) and Khopesh +2 menacing (x6).

Ain-Mekh has only a golden pectoral necklace adorned with beads of carnelian, onyx, and tourmaline, worth 8,000gp. It also radiates a faint abjuration aura though you can’t identify what it does exactly.

Amid the discarded corpses and body parts between the embalming tables to the west are three scrolls of create greater undead, a scroll of dictum, a scroll of mass bull’s strength, and three Set masks made of hammered gold set with inset onyx eyes (worth 7,600gp each). In addition, a sixth scroll lies in a puddle of gore, its writing significantly damaged.

The spell contained on the scroll somehow accelerates the mummification process though contemporary embalmers believe this spell to have been lost ages ago. Although the scroll does not function properly in its current state, priests who conduct funerary tasks would be willing to pay 5,000gp for it.

The room seems otherwise empty of valuables, though the heavy smell of death hangs in the air.

Kosei picks up the mass bull's strength scroll to use it soon and helps the other carry the other jewelry "I cannot make use of the other scrolls, perhaps you can take them"

"So now... we have to find the herald and Hakotep... well, we will have to cross the western block. The old spirit said she only saw it open for his wife, perhaps you could carry there Aunt Meg? Let's go with her skin too. She discarded it somewhere around here... it might be useful to trick the block to open perhaps"

If the others are in line with that plan, the Garundi helps carrying everything to the western block in the first hall, and study there how to open that block.
Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31
K. dungeonning: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
K. planes: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

Stelle looks at the pieces of Aunt Meh scattered about the floor with a perplexed look on her face.

"Which piece do you think we need?" She picks up the golden pectoral necklace and wipes off all the gore. "Maybe this piece will do?"

She heads for the western front carrying the necklace, and holds it up to the door.

Kosei heads to the western block where he hopes to find a way to open it using what’s left of Ain-Mekh. You've been told the western passage leads deeper into the complex.

Stelle heads to the north where she faces another large stone block, with another large hand print. As with the one in the south, you expect pretty much anyone can open the door. You've been told beyond this door lies what's left of a failed army of Akhumen like the six you just killed.

Florence and Zilchus - where to?

Zilchus moves to follow wise Kosei, taking care to be sure Stelle and Florence are moving with before following as well.

"Well, Kosei, I've thought it over and think Stelle has the long and short of it. Let's try north first," Zilchus drawls to the lion. "We can come back this way. C'mon Flo...let's see what Annie has found."

When others are ready, Moving back to the north with Stelle, he will put his hand in the indentation, hoping for the best.

"Ok, let's see what is true about that army of Akhumen" Kosei strolls behind Zilchus, joining Stelle in front of the block.

"We have braved many fights my friends, but we have never fought a real full army trained to work together before... I pray the ancient souls of our sacred land guide us and gives us enough strength to find our way in this chamber" with that, the Garundi sets himself into a martial defensive stance and waits for Zilchus to set his hand and open the door.

Zilchus places his hand in the door and, like the last one, it descends quickly to reveal a large room.

Three archers are depicted on the floor of this chamber, surrounded by a border of glowing red sigils. Over three dozen mummies lie on the floor, arrayed in neat rows, wearing white linen kilts with gold buckles. Three emaciated corpses hang from chains on the north wall, their rotted linen wrappings in tatters and their mummified flesh rent as if by large claws. Piles of rotting cloth lie on the floor beneath the bodies, and rough hieroglyphs are scrawled on the wall above the corpses, apparently in dried blood.

The hieroglyphs above the corpses read, “Those who failed to create the Sky Pharaoh’s honor guard have paid the price! Ain-Mekh does not accept disobedience.” The piles of rotting cloth beneath the corpses on the wall are decomposed priestly vestments, along with three silver unholy symbols of Set (50gp ea). The gold and turquoise kilts are worth 100gp each and there are 42 total, including the six I forgot to mention on those you killed with Ain-Mekh.

"Yoo-hoo! Neferuset, where are you you crazy eyed spider?" Stelle says flinging the pectoral necklace and stepping into the room. She looks up and around. "Your Herald is no more!"

Perception: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (17) + 26 = 43

Stelle's 'Yoo-hoo!' echoes a bit in the long large hall, but no one responds. The pectoral necklace bounces into the chamber without incident. She then carefully searches throughout the room but finds nothing of particular note.

Stelle retrieves the necklace by scooping it up with her lance and shrugs. "I would really have expected to find her among an army of dead. Shall we now progress to the last door?"

1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 19 + 2 = 29 Know (History)

Zilchus lets out a sputter breath and then a deep inhale if about to reveal something of shattering value...and then loses his train of thought and has nothing of interest to say. So close.

I need to poop.

Zilchus moves into the room, his hands at his hips. His falchion is in his right hand, cord attached to his wrist.

"Think we should burn this bodies? Or chop them up, just to be sure?" Zilchus asks Kosei and Florence, wanting to be sure about things.

Kosei scans the room for auras of magic.
Spellcraft+Detect magic: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

"It is an outrage to the land that these bodies lay like this in this place" Kosei nods to Zilchus "Let's burn this. Let the flames of the Sun Lion purify the corpses of these ones so they spirits can find their way to the Boneyard"

The Garundi extends his hand and creates a gale of flames to set the pile of bodies into fire.
Burning hands damage: 5d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 1, 4) = 10

"And now, let's find the Herald and the rotted Pharaoh before they find out we have reached this far" Kosei leaves the bodies in fire and directs himself to the last door where he hopes the necklace or the skin of the pharaoh's wife can open the block.

He burns two of his pearls of power I to recover burning hands and thunderstomp spells.

KnowHist: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12 Hero
So close.

"Why am I suddenly reminded of ... rituals? ... for dead people?"

+5 to Zil's Know history.

Kn. History (DC 30): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (16) + 25 = 41

Perhaps the close call rattled Florence a little more than she'd initially let on because she's largely silent as she follows the group along to the north. It's not until she's aware of her friends looking at her somewhat expectantly that she snaps out of her fugue - at about the time that Stelle and Zilchus piece together the meaning of the strange scene looming before them.

"Oh! Um, sorry. My mind was wandering. Anyway yes, basically what Zilchus and Stelle said," she says, shuffling her feet slightly out of embarrassment.

"Anyway, looks like those three there had a pretty bad time," Florence adds, gesturing at the chained corpses. "Glad we didn't end up like that."

After carefully scanning around to make sure there aren't any other suspicious magical auras lingering in the chamber, she moves to follow Kosei as he approaches the far exit.

Having plumbed what secrets could be had, and setting fire to Hakotep’s ‘army’, Kosei and the party head back to the larger ‘engine’ chamber. He holds up Ain-Mekh’s dead body, and the block does not move. He holds up her skin, and the block does not move. Then he holds up her necklace (or Stelle does), and the block shifts! It quickly lowers down into the floor reveal a passage beyond. Several paintings of recumbent jackals decorate the floor at mostly regular intervals in this corridor, another nod to the god Anubis.

You find no secret doors or passages in this hall which has no other exit you can discern.

Zilchus will leave a chaosodile in the army room, summoning the entropic reptile to perhaps do at least 25% of what Zilchus would want.

"You. You...don't you snap at me!" Zilchus jerks his hands away from the giant chaos-touched chaosodile. Zilchus moves away and begins to give commands to the chaosodile.

"See all the bones and bodies here? I want *all* them bones snapped, broken, bent, eaten, and every single body to be decapitated. Destroy very mummy in this damn room, snap all their necks and tear off all their head, do you think you can do that?" Zilchus asks his summons a pointed question. "It should be something you could do if you put your mind to it. Now get at it. I want nothing but broken bones and headless bodies in here!"

With that, Zilchus will spin on heels to follow the party to the next area. I figure the chaosodile can do a lot of damage within his 16 minutes of summoning time.

* * *

Zilchus looks at the paintings, thinking upon them.

1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 19 + 2 = 36 Know (Religion)

Zilchus will knock on the walls, as if looking and listening for something.

1d20 + 26 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 26 + 2 = 43 Perception

Kosei goes through the corridor following Zilchus until he finds there is no way out "Odd, don't you find? Ain-Meckh sure had a way to reunite his husband. There must be something about all this jackalas decorating the corridor..." the man inspects the symbol at the southern corridor attentively, trying to find out if they might be product of an illusion.
Detect magic+Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Anyway, he tries various things, like placing his hand over the jackal head and order it to open in Ancient Osiriani using different constructs "For Anubis, you open! Open in the name of Anubis! Show us the way for Anubis! In the name of the Pharaoh, open now! By the Sun Lion, open! Open my friend! Please!"

Anubis's ears perk up as he hears his name being called. He charges to the center of the corridor and howls.

I AM ANUBIS! ANUBIS IS HERE! OPEN UP NOW!

"Sssh, Anubis! He's not talking to you!" Stelle scolds gently, trying to calm the dog down.

"Odd, don't you find? Ain-Meckh sure had a way to reunite his husband."

"Let's just hope she doesn't have a way to reunite herself."

Perception: 1d20 + 26 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 26 + 2 = 46 Hero.

Standard to check for mummies.

Anubis, Scent: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Zilchus' chaosodile starts in on finishing what the flames might have left behind. Further, Zilchus thinks there may be some hollow spaces behind the walls in certain areas of the hallway - behind the Anubis hieroglyphs and the empty space (where the bloodstain is - see below).

Kosei wills a change in the hallway before begging for one. Unfortunately however, nothing changes.

Just south of the ’T’ intersection, where there is no Anubis on the floor, Anubis (the dog not the god) discovers a drop of relatively fresh blood - presumably from Ain-Mekh. Still, Stelle finds no secret at the spot (noted on map). She does sense non-undead mummies (the scarab detects both animated and inanimate mummies I think) behind each of the Anubis figures on the floor, but not in the wall behind the drop of blood.

(Also a correction. Ain-Mekh was the Herald of Hakotep, not his wife. The ghost Sehela made the mistake initially, though she corrected herself in a later post. To be clear, you have not yet found Hakotep’s wife, Queen Neferuset.)

"Hmm...hollow spaces but apparently no illusions or other magic covering them up?" Florence repeats as she stares thoughtfully up and down the corridor. Her thoughtful expression darkens slightly when Anubis sniffs out the blood droplet.

"Um...this may sound dumb, but let me try something. If it doesn't work, well, we've got wands and I can patch myself up."

Florence takes out her dagger, wincing as she draws the blade across her palm. Then, she takes her bleeding hand and rubs it against the wall where Anubis and Stelle pointed out the blood droplet, smearing her own blood across it.

"Someone that sick probably wouldn't mind using blood magic to hide things - not one bit. Er, at least that's what makes sense to me..."
______________

Having some trouble with the map, please feel free to move Flo to the indicated spot in the hall.

Florence bleeds for the party but, sadly, the wall stands there impassively and refuses to change or alter.

The wall remains solid.

"Mmm... you say there is some empty space there Commander Zilchus my friend?" after moments of hesitation, Kosei wild shapes into a huge earth elemental and performs a quick peek through the wall trying to find what the empty space might be.

Though most of this complex has protections against such shenanigans, the wall here is thin, and molded - perhaps as with stone shape or the like. As such, Kosei can penetrate it easily, though it’s very much smaller than he is so he cannot pass through at his current size - just look through as if poking his head through a window.

Also, Kosei, keep in mind you're squeezing in the hallway as the walls are quite solid, even to you. You could push back on whatever magics are holding the walls intact and repelling your form, but you're not sure what that would do.

No arcana, I give you Spellcraft in case that helps: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
"There is something really here my friends. A wide column of smoky white and gray light is there, but ghostly humanoid shapes appear to rise and fall within the column, their limbs calmly held at their sides" the earth elemental turns back then and looks at Zilchus "I think you will appreciate the faint odor of wine that pervades the air"

"I think you might know what it is and how it is connected to the Pharaon Florence. You need to see it. Give me space..." now that they know there really is something there, the squeezed Kosei-elemental, performs magical gestures to cast stone shape and make a hole just large enough for all the other ones to pass "Stones of Osirion, we need to save our land. Hear my call and show us the way to the Pharaoh" If this works, he shapes back to his original form so he can pass through the hole.

Beyond the wall Kosei parts with the power of an elementa (stone shape works like a charm)l, you all see a small room.

The walls of this chamber are smooth and devoid of any ornamentation. At the west end is a wide column of smoky white and gray light. Ghostly humanoid shapes appear to rise and fall within the column, their limbs calmly held at their sides. A faint odor of wine pervades the air.

Knowledge Arcana if you wish. Kosei doesn't learn anything from his Spellcraft.

"Oh well, worth a try," Florence sighs as she pulls out one of the group's many minor magical wands of healing and taps her palm with it, mending the split flesh. "And now the wall bears my handprint, a way of saying, 'Florence Corvina has been h-'"

She stops as Kosei shapes the stone wall before them, warping it to make an entrance that the party may pass through. Her bloody handprint is a casualty, stretched and contorted into a smeary mess.

"Ah well," she sighs quietly. It's probably for the best.

Curious, she moves to this new opening and peers inside.

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45

"Ah Flo, what are you...wait, no! Oh okay...uh...you do that..." Zilchus talks through his too slow response to Flo's bloodletting. "Yeah, okay, uhm, why don't you let me know before you do that again? I'll...I'll want to talk you out of it or look the other way. I don't like to see my blood, let alone yours."

* * *

"Mmm... you say there is some empty space there Commander Zilchus my friend?"

"That is a wise idea, my wise friend Kosei," Zilchus coos hopefully. "Let's see what you can find."

Zilchus will look into the room Kosei exposed.

1d20 + 26 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 26 + 2 = 44 Perception

"Oh!" Stelle gasps, covering her mouth with her shield as Florence drags the blade across her palm. "Thanks -- I don't think I could have done that..."

Stelle and Anubis back up a little as Kosei rocks the Boulder Look, then shapes the stone wall.

She moves Anubis back up when he returns to human Kosei and takes a peek into the room.

+5 Florence's perception.

"Give you some time to recover blood smart Florence my friend" Kosei nods agreeing with Zilchus he does not want to see that in the meantime "I did also found the walls of the pyramid are protected to pass through elementals. Fortunately I was able to get inside enough to peek at the other side"

The Garundi readies himself to fight whatever the column of spirits might be, entering his usual fighting stance.