GM Euan's Mummy's Mask (Inactive)

Game Master Euan

Benedictus, Appraise perhaps? Maybe, though it's a bit of a stretch, Knowledge Engineering.

Marid's Caress

”Well, I think the whole scenario was simply magical!” Nidhi gushes. ”I don’t think you were babbling Florence. I think we were all surprised to meet a dragon today. Can you imagine? Nidhi’s eyes bulge. ”I mean, you don’t need to imagine anything because it actually happened but still… wow. You know? It’s like when you see a giant scorpion blocking the road, but then you give it some cheese and it lets you pass unscathed.” Nidhi recounts some wild tale told by a hero who’d traveled through Wati. Out of context, Nidhi may sound a bit odd.

Nidhi turns quiet as a large mass of undead can be heard meandering about. They look like they’re waiting for something… How smart are ghouls? Nidhi glances over at her companions to see if they seem perturbed by the scene. Even if they aren’t Nidhi doesn’t seem too bothered by it. Their group had adventured into the Necropolis before and Nidhi isn’t a stranger to death. Being a native, the undead don’t seem as scary as other creatures (particularly insects.)

Nidhi shares in her companion’s disappointment at the discovery of the destroyed compass at the bathhouse.

Can we take the lens with us? Is it detachable from the compass? Should Nidhi roll a specific Knowledge check on the lens?

Vizier’s Hill

”You are not dead, yet you roam the Necropolis. What is it you want from us?” one of them asks as the other two flank her, almost pushing her forward to talk to you.

If you tell us what they are, does that mean our characters automatically know what creatures they are?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Nidhi catches Ben’s eye and clears her throat. ”Ahem. Ahh! Hello, friends! We are here in search of a very particular item. After we find it, we will happily be on our way. Perhaps you can tell us where it is so we can leave you in peace faster?” Nidhi places a hand on her hip and tilts her head, ”Unless you’re interested in trading with us?” Nidhi wonders if these Dark Creepers have found many shiny objects in their explorations of the tombs. Then, Nidhi wonders if the Dark Creepers have met the dragon. Probably not.

On the way to Vizier Hill, Florence offers to take a look at the lens as well. "Huh...so it's not magical, but it's not a part of the compass, right?" she muses as she gently turns the item over in her hands. "Maybe it fell out of someone's magnifying glass?"

Appraise (Untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
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"We're not here to hurt anyone, I promise," Florence adds gently, slowly kneeling to place her longspear on the ground and then straightening back up with her empty hands raised. "We're from the city, looking for a way to put a stop to all the undead that have been roaming around these past several days."

She clears her throat. "A priest from the city named Ptemenib told us where we could find you and said that your leader might be able to offer help? It was Unwrapped Harmony, right?"

Diplomacy (Aid): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

This is not going very good...She failed to reveal the nature of the item we're looking for to them. I don't know how much patience dark folk have, but I suspect not too much, to be honest...

Ben decides to intervene, in order to avoid the worst. "We're looking for a tool that could help all of us get ridden of the undead before it's too late. Collaborating would prove helpful for everyone."

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Untrained Appraise check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Spellcraft check (with detect magic): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Diplomacy check (aid another): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Cahal stiffens at the sight of the dark folk. She moves to the edge of the conversation, looking away from it in case it is an ambush.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Paizo has been increasingly unstable and at the most inopportune times. Thank you for your patience as we all ride this out…

The lens is in no way connected to the compass, so no problem bringing it with you. Florence recognizes it is an item of some value, even in it’s current rough condition. Benedictus though discovers its true worth however when he bends his magics to it. It is a Lens of Detection.

Sorry for the poor description of your visitors, a better one follows…

The dark creepers are small, about gnome sized. Filthy, reeking black rags wrap these humanoids from head to toe, leaving only its hands and pale white nose visible. They seem most unsteady, almost fearful, of your presence here.

Nidhi catches Ben’s eye and clears her throat. ”Ahem. Ahh! Hello, friends! We are here in search of a very particular item. After we find it, we will happily be on our way. Perhaps you can tell us where it is so we can leave you in peace faster?” Nidhi places a hand on her hip and tilts her head, ”Unless you’re interested in trading with us?” Nidhi wonders if these Dark Creepers have found many shiny objects in their explorations of the tombs. Then, Nidhi wonders if the Dark Creepers have met the dragon. Probably not.

They look uneasily at each other and then back to Nidhi. Once again the woman (?) speaks, ”We could, uh, maybe help you. If peace is indeed your aim.” she starts nervously.

"We're not here to hurt anyone, I promise," Florence adds gently, slowly kneeling to place her longspear on the ground and then straightening back up with her empty hands raised. "We're from the city, looking for a way to put a stop to all the undead that have been roaming around these past several days."

She clears her throat. "A priest from the city named Ptemenib told us where we could find you and said that your leader might be able to offer help? It was Unwrapped Harmony, right?"

Ben decides to intervene, in order to avoid the worst. "We're looking for a tool that could help all of us get ridden of the undead before it's too late. Collaborating would prove helpful for everyone."

They all three straighten up and whisper to each other fiercely in an unknown tongue a moment before one of the other two speaks in a deeper huskier voice (male?). While he speaks, the other in the trio, the one who hasn’t spoken aloud to you yet, scurries off deeper into the villa.

”Please, come with us. We will wait in the courtyard, it is much more pleasant than being out in this sun, and further from the roaming dead.” The two remaining dark folk lead you into a very dim courtyard, overgrown with several vines blocking out nearly all sun. A fetid pool of what must be a nearly dry spring seems to be feeding the vines. The woman dips a pitcher into the pool and pours water into ceramic cups for themselves and the party. She takes a sip after passing cups all around.

”We will wait for Unwrapped Harmony, our leader. She will know what to do.” she stands quietly, sipping while the other watches the entryway, peering into the sunlight, obviously on watch.

Nidhi looks around the dim courtyard. She focuses on the few rays of sun that squeeze through the overgrown vines. Nidhi accepts the cup but doesn't drink from it. Do they live here?

So Nidhi stands, peering around and waiting for Unwrapped Harmony to arrive.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Nope.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 Perception

Zilchus relaxes a little as the conversation seems to be taking a good turn and that Ptemenib's name seems to carry some weight around here. His be-corded left hand rests on the pommel of his sheathed falchion as he waits.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 2 = 18

Although Florence doesn't understand the Dark Folk tongue, she manages to catch 'Ptemenib' enough to realize that dropping his name seems to have hopefully done the trick and relaxes a bit as they're led into the courtyard to wait.

She glances around as her eyes slowly adjust to the change in light. "Thank you," she smiles as their temporary hosts pass around cups of water, though she also tries her best to not actually stare into the cup too hard. "It's um...it's a nice place that you have here," she adds lamely, objecting to the silence but not really sure of how one might make small talk with Dark Folk.

Before

"Hey, Zil...," says Ben, after carefully analyzing the lens his friend has found. "I think this lens could come in handy. You should keep it. You're always tracking and looking around, this suits you."

The scholar extends his arm and offers the lens to Zilchus. "You see, this lens lets its user detect minute details and it also aids in tracking. Its technical name is "lens of detection", if my memories about the Handbook of Wondrous Items are still correct. In fact, that was a ponderous tome, which listed the price of every single known wondrous item on the market, along with a description of its properties, the requisites of its creations...Wow, it has been such a long time! That exam was crazy, I swear!"

Ben crosses his arms behind his head and smiles. "The life of an adventurer is much better! It's such a shame that I will revert to be a boring scholar in a few days, when this will be all over. At least now I'm a boring scholar who lives an adventurous life, that sounds so much fun!"

With the dark folk

Ben relaxes a little, accepting the cup.

Mmm, that's very commonplace, but still...could the content of the cup be harmful to humans?

Ben takes a look around, to see what his friends do. Eventually, he decides not to drink from the cup.

Cahal relaxes a bit: "There's some activity over there. Some of the thinking undead walking with purpose... It had nothing to do with us, but still, I don't like it. We need to find that thing quickly."

Just to be sure, when I say 'Dark Folk and Perception DC 15' I mean you need to both speak the language and make the perception check to get the spoiler.

She glances around as her eyes slowly adjust to the change in light. "Thank you," she smiles as their temporary hosts pass around cups of water, though she also tries her best to not actually stare into the cup too hard. "It's um...it's a nice place that you have here," she adds lamely, objecting to the silence but not really sure of how one might make small talk with Dark Folk.

The dark creeper with pouring water looks uneasily at Florence when she speaks and says nothing in an uncomfortable silence. Eventually the other quips, still looking outside and not at the party, "It's dark." You're not sure if that's a good thing or a complaint from his tone.

A little while later, the female creeper tries to offer everyone more water. She refills her own cup and continues to sip nervously...

The party waits uncomfortably for about a half an hour, before a tall, curvy woman dressed similarly to the dark creepers but well over 5' tall, joins the party. This humanoid's pale brow and black, soulless eyes are all that can be seen above a black scarf wrapped around her face. She is not a dark creeper, but rather something else…

She is flanked by two more dark creepers, neither of which you’ve seen before, you think. She approaches with a graceful casualness, accepts a cup from the creeper with you and somewhat ritually sips the tepid water before turning fully to face the party, ”I am Unwrapped Harmony. I understand you are aquatinted with Ptemenib and may be here on his behalf. Ptemenib is a friend, and has helped us here, so we welcome you at least that far.”

”What is it that we may do for you?” she asks as she sips some more and politely awaits a reply.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Know (Local)

He says nothing yet, letting the continuing efforts of Nidhi, Ben, & Flo handle these discussions.

This time Ben decides to take the stage first.

"I am Benedictus West Dickens, I'm honored to make your acquaintance, Unwrapped Harmony," he starts off.

"We've been sent here by Ptemenib in order to retrive a powerful tool that could potentially solve all of our problems with the undead. We call it Elegiac Compass, and it looks like this," explains the scholar as he presents the empty too his party has found, with the missing core.

"Now, Ptemenib suggested that you could know something more about Elegiac Compasses. We believe that collaboration could prove mutually beneficial, since undead are dangerous for everyone".
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Knowledge (local) check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Special abilities, resistances

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Ben wants to impress Harmony, because he's quite fascinated by her. With his speech, he's also trying to shift her attitude positively towards himself.[/smaller]

Knowledge (Local) DC16: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Diplomacy AID: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Nidhi nods and supports Ben with her physical presence. Nidhi considers that perhaps less words are better than more. The group already seems on edge. So Nidhi allows Ben to get to the point, while she stands listening.

The compass is actually a very large affair, sorry. The book does not describe it clearly anywhere, just snippets. Yet imagine a large 4’ long, fat telescope with a variety of crystal cylinders around the base. They are bolted to their locations, and much too delicate and heavy to move successfully. That said, Benedictus is able to describe the thing clearly enough to be understood.

Unwrapped Harmony takes another sip and considers your request before responding. ”I do not know much of that sort of magic, and I honestly cannot help you with your compass. But I can perhaps help you with the undead. Periodically, small gangs of dark folk have splintered from my clan, the Xotl, to form their own breakaway clans that embrace dissenting ideas.“

”Usually these factions die out or eventually crawl back to the fold, but recently one of my own apprentices, a dark slayer named Gaunt Cadaver, left the Xotl to form his own group. You see, we are fascinated with the human mummies in the necropolis, as our own people leave behind no corpses when we die. We hope to learn the secrets of mummification to share with our people.”

”However, the Xotl view the preserved human corpses as almost holy relics that should not be disturbed. Unfortunately, Gaunt Cadaver has become enamored with necromancy and decided to take a more direct hand in learning the mummies’ secrets.”

She pauses a moment, and takes another sip eyeing you carefully. ”I have heard reports that he has begun turning his followers into undead abominations. Perhaps it is he who has caused these uprisings.”

”If you will but slay him, what remains of his people will come back to the fold and perhaps the undead will begin to rest. My apprentice has swallowed a magical stone. Bring it to me, and I will know he is dead. Then the Xotl shall help you in your endeavor - should you need further assistance. It is possible Gaunt Cadaver is behind all this… after all, he is very clever.” she says with some pride.

Cahal does not like the new woman, and she seems only too happy to have them do her dirty work. She studies her eyes and demeanour, wondering if the woman is speaking true and what she may be hiding...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Heh...it always comes down to violence doesn't it?" Florence chuckles darkly. She gazes at Unwrapped Harmony, a shrewd look on her face. "Gaunt Cadaver and his friends must be strong, otherwise you'd have probably taken care of him already. What would we need to know about him if we were to do this?"

"And where might we find him?" Zilchus adds to Florence's questions. "Do you have anything that might help us against his darkness?"

Unwrapped Harmony shrugs noncommittally, "Violence is often the answer don't you find? And yes, he is strong, but it would also be difficult to motivate our two camps against each other - that's why an outside solution is ideal."

"If you don't feel you can handle it, I understand. But if Gaunt Cadaver is in fact your source, you'll have to deal with him sooner or later I suspect." she adds.

"He has changed, and I do not know what that change has wrought in him, so it would be useless for me to speculate about how to defeat him. I can tell you he has a Steadfast Gut Stone (link)." and she tells you all about it's abilities. "Further, he was training in the Oracular arts, but hasn't gotten far in his studies. He may have a few spells, but nothing of consequence I'm sure."

"You can find him in a villa not far from here. If he still possesses the ability to create darkness, I cannot help you. Our kind all see well in the black, even magically created."

Ben looks to his friends. "We should do it. And as for the darkness, I suggested to buy a few potions enabling us to see in darkness. Did anyone do that?," he asks with a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Anyway, thank you for your information, Unwrapped Harmony. I've just one further question before we leave: this dissenting clan...do you know anything about their hideout, that villa you mentioned? Anything that could give us an edge over them would be welcome, indeed..."

"Er...no, not me," Florence responds to Ben's question with some chagrin. She couldn't remember exactly when it had been suggested but it was quite possible she'd either missed or forgotten it.

Did we even have enough money earlier to buy those potions? Maybe we didn't.

"I...I just need some time to meditate on it," says Ben to his friends as he stands up and bows to the dark folk leader. "It has been an honor to meet you, Unwrapped Harmony." And with that, the scholar leaves without waiting for his friends. His mind is already trying to find a solution to the problem at hand. But that's no easy task.

So...Let's think about it, ponders the Osirionologist to himself as he paces back and forth, waiting for his companions. Dark stalkers can cast a spell we usually refer to as deeper darkness. If cast in a dim area, or in an area which is already dark, deeper darkness produces supernatural darkness, a darkness through which not even creatures who have darkvision can see through...But nonetheless, dark stalkers are able to see through this supernatural darkness by nature. If we end up fighting them in those conditions, we're certainly going to risk our lives...

As soon as the others arrive, Ben takes a break from thinking.

"Can we get out of here for a moment? I need to breathe some fresh air, it helps me think harder." He smiles, realizing he's not giving the right amount of kindness to his words, too lost in his thoughts. "I'm trying to find a way to pierce the supernatural darkness the dark stalkers we're goint to pay a visit to are able to generate. But that's no easy task!," the scholar explains while scretching the back of his head with his left hand.

With the help of fresh air, Ben goes back to his thoughts.

Again, now...As I see it, we have a few possible solutions to this problem, but none of them is guaranteed to work...And in that case, I must prepare for the worst. Exempli gratia, if we cannot light up the darkness, we could still prevent our foes from seeing too. And to accomplish that I just need a few scrolls and a certain spell...

Ben stops suddenly, his restless walking arrested by an intuition.

Well, yes, that might work...OK, I think I've got some ideas. Now, the difficult part: convince the others to trust me.

***

Ben makes a gesture to the party to come closer, and once he's sure that he has everyone's attention, he clear his throat and starts a detailed speech about the problem at hand. Then, he suggests his solutions.

"I have a few ideas on how to counter this supernatural darkness, but none of them can be accomplished without a day or two of study and preparation. It would also help to have some magic items at our disposals, so we'll need someone to go shopping for them. Would you give me this time?
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OK, the plan is the following: first of all, Benedictus will try to learn fog cloud and prepare at least a glitterdust in order to prevent the dark stalkers from seeing too, in case the party should not be able to dispel the supernatural darkness. Step two is the following: Ben learns dispel magic to use on the object on which the stalkers will cast their darkness spell. Ben will then prepare a dispel magic in his daily spells, and buy a scroll of it. Step three is as follows: we buy a few scrolls of daylight. But on this point we might use a clarification from the GM, the whole light/darkness matter being rather obscure in Pathfinder...Does daylight dispel and counter deeper darkness? What if we bring a magical source of light and when they cast deeper darkness, the level of light in the area is high enough not to being lowered to supernatural darkness?

Ben looks to his friends. "We should do it. And as for the darkness, I suggested to buy a few potions enabling us to see in darkness. Did anyone do that?," he asks with a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Anyway, thank you for your information, Unwrapped Harmony. I've just one further question before we leave: this dissenting clan...do you know anything about their hideout, that villa you mentioned? Anything that could give us an edge over them would be welcome, indeed..."

Unwrapped Harmony gestures and her minions withdraw. "Unfortunately I do not know the villa in question. It is a long building and large, but likely just a few main halls I should expect."

"Please discuss among yourselves your plan and do as you will. You are welcome here to our courtyard, and our water, in the meantime. We'll be here when you've accomplished your task."

Then she too withdraws leaving you alone in the dim light with the dripping pool to keep you company.

Did this... Gaunt Cadaver steal from the Temple of Nethys? Nidhi wants to ask Unwrapped Harmony but decides against it. Nidhi pulls out her Everburning Torch from the deep cloak pocket. "I have this, but no potions." Nidhi shakes her torch around.

Nidhi don't grasp the full-implications of the darkness. What darkness can't be lit by an Everyburning Torch? Nidhi feels pretty confident. As the Professor paces, Nidhi turns to Cahal: "Cahal! Hey, Cahal! If you want, we can share this light. You know, together." Nidhi raises an sensual eyebrow.

Zilchus knows he doesn't have a solution for darkness and relies upon others for having one.

"Should we go back into town to get more and different supplies?"

Cahal ignores Nidhi: "Aren't we here to find those compass things and figure out how to use them? I'd much rather we start with this, then perhaps look into fixing this Gaunt Cadaver a new necktie if our first plan doesn't unfold."

"And what's with these guys drinking all the time!?"

Ben is comprehensibly quite frustrated. "OK, now...We don't seem to be able to reach a consensus on anything". The scholar shakes his head, sighs, and sits down on the floor. "Well, anyway, just make up your mind and I will follow. Personally, I believe that we should take the cue and go deeper into the task the dark folk proposed, but if you have a better plan, let's go with it. So, Cahal, what do you propose?"

The party is unsure of their next direction though they seem to be leaning away from engaging any dark folk at this time.

The nearest Compass is at 'M' or 'O' (you're at 'I' presently) and 'J' is the locale of the dark folk necromancer.

Area 'M' was formerly known as the Gulla Market, this bazaar hosted various traders and artisans when the necropolis was a living part of Wati. Sebti’s map locates one of the elegiac compasses at this site.

Ptemenib would have also told you that an adventuring band called the Sunrise Fellows was assigned the Market during the Grand Mausoleum’s lottery, but the group didn’t return, leading the Pharasmins to believe they were killed in the necropolis, but not necessarily on site as a brief investigation lead to a pack of ghouls and the body of one of the band. The ghouls were about halfway between the gate and the Market (about halfway between 'P' and 'K'. A more thorough investigation was scheduled, but matters have overtaken the loss of an adventuring party in the necropolis...

Just before his death, an astronomer and wizard named Menket Maatya arranged for a basement in the necropolis to be converted into a comfortable tomb for his remains. Later, the Pharasmins placed one of their elegiac compasses in the sepulcher. That's area 'O'.

"Okay - no matter what we do, I do think we need to go back to Wati and get some more supplies. The more we talk, the more it sounds like we're probably under-prepared for some of the dangers running around out here," Florence says gently. "And that's just as much my fault as anyone else's. I figured we might end up fighting with lamias but I didn't think about fighting Dark Folk," she continues, looking embarrassed. "Lesson learned and thankfully before anyone actually got really hurt - prepare for the unexpected."
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At the very least, I vote we go back to Wati (if we can) and pick up the things Ben referenced in his earlier post because we'll likely need them at some point before we're done. May as well get that taken care of sooner rather than later!

"Well said, Florence," agrees Ben. "But before we come back, let's push a little bit forward. Are you with me?" Ben tries to be as enthusiastic as he can, in order to push his friends to action. "We have a lot of energies still in our bodies and minds, and now we're already halfway to these areas...Let's go and check them out!"

If the party decides to follow Ben's advice, the scholar will point to area O on the map.

"This place. I believe we should start from here. Troubles awaits for sure, but there's something in that story about the missing adventurers that gives me the creeps and make me feel like that might be even more dangerous than a wizard's tomb. Shall we go?"

"Yes, I'll go where we can find compasses." replies Cahal, her mood darkening further as she gets put on the spot.

I said I would shut up. Now look at me...

"Right, right...we've still got plenty of daylight so yeah, let's go have a look," Florence agrees. "We can head back to Wati and pick up those supplies once it starts getting late!"

The party takes advantage of the time (just about noon) and heads over to the Tomb of Menket Maatya. You encounter nothing on your way there in the brightest part of the day.

Just before his death, an astronomer and wizard named Menket Maatya arranged for a basement in the necropolis to be converted into a comfortable tomb for his remains. Later, the Pharasmins placed one of their elegiac compasses in the sepulcher.

When you arrive, you learn a grim truth. Some time ago, someone looted the tomb of its valuables, including parts of the elegiac compass, leaving only a stripped bronze and stone frame. Now the basement tomb stands empty save for a simple wooden sarcophagus holding Menket’s mummified body, which does not look to be disturbed.

1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6 Int

Zilchus stares in dumb horror at the remains of yet another compass.

"I can't believe every compass is gone. Seems like this entire process is a dead end," Zilchus ponders aloud. "You would think at least one of them might still be in working condition, especially since this area was supposed to be walled off an sealed...but in typical Pharasmook style, nothing is done right." Zilchus shakes his head.

Zilchus seems quite dispirited.

"I just can't believe all this. I guess we were naive to think anything might remain. Maybe we'll need to find another way to find the mask. Maybe some sort of other magic. Do we have any pictures or drawings of the mask, Ben? Maybe there is another way?"

Int: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Cahal’s spirit crumbles and she kicks a piece of the compass, sending it flying across the room. ”Maybe Ptemenib knew!? Maybe he knew this would keep us busy, or better, killed?!”

"Perhaps it's exactly because all the compasses are gone that the dead have awakened," thinks out loud Benedictus, scratching his chin in reply to Zilchus' remark. "If that's the case, then recovering one and make it work again become an even higher priority!"

After Zilchus brings back the conversation to the mask, Benedictus takes a little time for himself to carefully meditate on his answer. “No drawings, nor sketches, I’m afraid. I just didn’t have the time for that…” For a moment, the scholar seems very sorry, but then his eyes spark with energy again. “Anyway, I think we should focus on one matter at a time. On the one hand, we have the mask. On the other, the undead. Perhaps the two are connected, but when it comes to solve problems, the best method is always that of analysis: dividing big problems into smaller problems and start from solving the latter. Now, what do you want to focus on?” he asks to everyone in the party. “Personally speaking, I would give priority to the undead, because it seems like the most urgent thing to me. And if we pursue this way, we should keep searching. Our next stop, in that case, would be…this area, I suppose”, says Ben, pointing to area “M”.
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Intelligence check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Zilchus holds up his hands at Benedictus, the same disagreement coming again to the fore.

"Are we responsible for stopping all the undead? I didn't sign up for that. They can stay bottled up in here for all I care. As I said, I'm here for the mask at best...and if the tools that the Pharasmooks told us to use are broken and scattered, then we need to go out and find another way. This is a dead end. We have nothing. Not one that works. Not one."

Zilchus seems inclined to return to the Pharasmooks and explain the situation.

Might be that we evacuate part of the town then release the psycho pumps.

Zilchus moves over to check out the unopened simple wooden sarcophagus. He examines it before opening it.

1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 5 = 20 Perception (Lens)

When others are ready, he opens it.

C’mon folks, please keep posting. I know fumbling around the Necropolis is hard, but when folks don’t post, it’s even harder to keep things moving… This should be a little frustrating, but not too bad. :)

GMPC Florence: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Int check
GMPC Nidhi: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20 Int check

Nidhi DMPC and Zilchus check the box, and it seems OK. However, when Zilchus opens it, he sees a beautiful rose-ruby, resting in the hands of the mummified Menket. As your lights hit the gem, it erupts into flame!

Fireball: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 3, 3, 4) = 16 fire damage to everyone, DC 14 reflex for half damage.

Though the mummy is partly singed, the gem remains brightly shining in your lights.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 Reflex

Zilchus singes, but has no one to blame but himself. He attempted to do something and was punished for it.

He looks at the gem, hoping that the effect doesn't happen again. He moves back 25' so others can examine the gem.

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Cahal just ducks behind the lid of the sarcophagus and manages to avoid most of the blast: "What in Osiris's name were yo-!" she starts, angry at Zilchus, but then stops, breathless.

"This is quite shiny... We may have a working compass after all..." and grins, which makes her look like a hyena. A merry one.

“At least the frame isn’t completely destroyed. Maybe we can takes parts and pieces of the compasses and combine them into one or two,” Nidhi suggests. ”Hey! I remember seeing a pile or bronze and crystal in the Silver Chain’s loot pile!”

Reflex DC14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Nidhi takes 8 damage.

"Ahhg! Watch it!" After the initial startle, Nidhi takes a step back from the glowing stone and examines it with caution. "What is it? ...Is it... a Phoenix stone?" Nidhi glances over at her companions. "You know, Phoenix excrement." Nidhi crosses her arms and nods thoughtfully.

"Cahal, you think this red stone is part of the compass? Why put it on a corpse? Ben, what do you think?"

Knowledge (Arcana) Phoenix Excrement: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Sorry, workworkwork.
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Reflex (DC 14; Drawback): 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 1 = 16

Florence's eyes widen and she manages to avoid the worst of the flames just in time, but she still suffers painful burns along her arms and legs - as well as some singed hair.

"Rgggghhhhhh! I hatehatehatehate HATE fire! I hate it!" she shrieks with anger but also fear and pain as well. Tears well in her eyes and she furiously wipes them away. "This whole mess is bad enough without having to worry about getting set on fire every other nook, cranny, or coffin we poke our noses into!"

She turns away from the group and takes a deep breath, rubbing at her temples all the while. Slowly exhaling, she turns around - calmer but still shaking slightly. "Okay, so we've finally got something shiny that our equally-shiny acquaintance might like. Or the stuff piled back in the Silver Chain's hideout, which I can't believe we forgot about. That's good. That's progress. Progress is good. Ben, do you know how much it's worth? If it's worth a small fortune then maybe we should just keep it for our trouble and go back for some of the Silver Chain's ill-gotten gains."

Then she glances at Nidhi. "On the other hand...if that's actually phoenix droppings, I'm not touching it no matter how pretty it is."

*slight edit*

In spite of her apprehension, Florence does attempt to gain an idea of whether it might be magical or not or even just plain old valuable....from a respectable distance, of course.

Detect Magic + Spellcraft (Gem): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Kn. Arcana (Gem): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Appraise (Untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Oh...NOOOO!" This time, Ben can't predict the danger. Too focused on how to reply to Zilchus, he's lost in his thoughts when the fire ball hits. He finds himself completely unable to react in time, and gets caught in the middle of the explosion.

Fortunately, the explosion is not enough to kill the renowned scholar, but it proves more than enough to make him scream out of pain and whine like a child.

When it is all over, the Osirionologist sighs. "Can anyone please...do something with these...burns?"

After being healed, Benedictus seems to be ready to talk about the plans again. "Could it be that this Phoenix stone is the core of the Elegiac Compass we're looking for?", he proposes.

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Reflex save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Nidhi isn’t sure what the gem is, but it is certainly magical, if only slightly. Florence thinks it may ‘reset’ and launch another fireball in a days time - if exposed to light. This gem is meant to be admired in the dark, and kept there. Perhaps it would be a fine, if unusual addition to a dragon hoard…

It is part of no compass, just a pretty gem with a strange trap like ability.

You are able to wrestle it away from the still dead mage who clutches it, though his bony fingers under the wrapping do hold the gem closely.

It’s hard to gauge it’s worth, but it could be around 1,800gp in value to the right buyer.

Zilchus will use his big wand to heal the major burns, letting others handle the small wand to heal the rest.

2d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5) + 3 = 14 CMW @ Ben
Wand CMW (49/50) left.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 CLW wand

"Well, good. We found some phoenix coprolite. Maybe the dragon wants that? Seems like a nice object and plenty shiny every once in a while," Zilchus comments, picking off bits of burn off his skin.

"Back to the dragon now? Or do we want to go hunt down the Silver Chain to get the other pieces back? While we're in town, we can also find a solution to supreme darkness."

Cahal nods to Zilchus, seemingly in agreement with his suggestion. "And we look at that pile of rubbish to see if anything is salvageable to make a compass work..." she adds.

Nidhi stares in surprise at Florence's display. Her mouth opens and closes wordlessly as she watches her companion. I really need to ask her about that one day. "Florence, are you... okay?" Nidhi can see her friend is clearly ANYTHING but okay, but she still offers the courtesy.

Nidhi doesn't bother to heal herself. She figures they won't run into anything for the rest of the evening. Haha.

Nidhi stands with her feet planted slightly apart and both hands on her hips. "If it's alright with you all, I'd like to visit the Silver Chain's hideout for the compass pieces. Then, maybe we can venture into town."

"No...not coprolite after all, thank goodness," Florence announces. "But still strange - it's magical and I think that fire effect will reset itself in about a day's time or so. Even stranger, the trigger for it is exposure to light. Sooo...it'd be a perfect bauble for someone that lives in and can see in the dark but not for day-dwellers like us." She snorts. "Whoever enchanted this sure had a twisted sense of humor."

"Um...but anyway I do think we should probably head back to Wati for now, or at least very soon," Florence continues. "We can see if we can pick up what we need in Wati and we can have another look at the stuff the Silver Chain had hoarded, whether on our way in or on our way back out to here. Then we should visit Shardizhad because by then we'll surely-to-gods have something she'll accept in trade!"

Before the group gets moving again, Florence does take a moment to heal her own injuries - somehow willing the angry patches of burnt skin away.

Heal Thyself: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (1, 3) + 5 = 9