Someone apparently opened his casket after his mummification, and then resealed it.
Not having an aversion to the dead, the Wati citizen suggests: ”We should open Khnenti’s casket. It’s already been opened before and the body could be missing.” Nidhi casts Detect Magic on the casket and seal.
"I want to start searching. We will investigate the rest of the place tomorrow, is that fine?"
”We just got into this dangerous, trap-laden place and the first thing you want to do to more research?” Nidhi grumbles and complies, looking over ancient documents. This is just the worst ever! I am suffering worse than the assassin we sent to jail! Nidhi pauses and looks upward in thought. What became of him anyway? Suddenly, Nidhi says: "You know, assassins like to lay lots of traps to hide their treasures. This could be their hideout." Nidhi looks completely serious. "They could just hate cleaning. Or maybe this dust is a cover too," Nidhi suggests conspiratorially. She takes a slow look around the room as if an assassin could be hiding behind a casket.
Yes, Nidhi can use the Lore Master to give her a bonus on her roll - sufficient to succeed! No assassins jump out as yet...
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Oh, Nidhi, also, your Bardic Knowledge bonus is +1 per 2 levels. So it should be +3 now... you have it as +1 on your character sheet.
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The party spends the afternoon taking a break from spelunking and turning to the books, scrolls, and other ancient artifacts in their search for clues. During the afternoon however, a strange thing happens. Benedictus’ directions and leadership fails the party in a few cases. Further, when questioned, he’s sure he’s right, and valuable time is wasted pursuing his false leads. Though he’s convinced he’s on the correct path, he has in fact failed to achieve any headway in the library this day, and may have even resulted in some delay among the rest of the party as well as he points Zilchus toward the nude cartouches…
- - -
Despite the setbacks, Nidhi does manage to learn a little so the afternoon is not totally wasted.
The Dark Depository primarily contains knowledge deemed too dangerous for general use. Numerous references to interrogations can be found, including mentions of the Scrolls of Inquiry, recording the confessions of members of the Sacrosanct Order of the Blue Feather, a sect of Nethysians who were questioned immediately after the death and burial of Hakotep I. The fact that the members of the sect were priests and priestesses of Nethys was kept secret, as Nethys was much revered in Ancient Osirion. Hakotep’s successor, Djederet II, was a priest of Nethys himself, and he deemed that the potential backlash of such information becoming public could lead to dangerous civil unrest. The Scrolls of Inquiry are held somewhere in a place called the Secret Archive - some room within the Dark Depository you haven’t found as yet.
Nidhi is also sure there is more to learn in this collection - there are hints and suggestions of things yet to be found.
It is evening, and likely dark outside by now. However, you may continue to search a little in the Depository if you wish and delay dinner an hour or so.
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Nidhi glances over Zilchus's shoulder at the nude cartouches, looks at Ben, looks at Zilchus, looks back at the cartouches, back at Ben, back at Zilchus, looks at Florence, then lastly Cahal. "Ben, what are you doing? If there is anyone in the party who appreciates art, it's me." Nidhi lifts up a drawing to eye it critically. Nidhi sighs "These women need more muscles. It's just not doing it for me." She's not bothered by the content or the research gone off-topic. "I can't believe they have something like this down here. I mean, what are the chances? This make research a lot more tolerable."
Nidhi thinks the assassins might be listening in so she holds off on speaking about the possibility of an enchantment until a later, more private time (probably over dinner in a private room in the tavern.)
"I have the feeling we've only scratched the surface. There's a lot more to learn. ...Can we open the casket before we leave for dinner?" Nidhi rubs her hands together excitedly.
Nidhi will cast Detect Magic on the casket.
"Ben do you notice anything about the casket? You did just get that shiny new headband-" Wait a minute...
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Sense Motive
Zilchus yawns, bored. The hoped for titillations in these books have been less 'tit' than he had wished for. He looks around, wondering if others had found things of interest or if they were still energized to research.
He gets up to stretch his legs, listening to the conversation of others.
Suddenly, Nidhi says: "You know, assassins like to lay lots of traps to hide their treasures. This could be their hideout."
Zilchus *almost* takes this seriously, but then realizes it's just Nidhi poking fun of someone...maybe not him, but maybe Cahal.
He sighs. He goes back to flipping through books looking for boobs boring works of knowledge.
"These women need more muscles. It's just not doing it for me."
Zilchus nearly falls out of his chair, assuredly maybe falling off to sleep as he hears something interesting. He shakes his head and continues to try to avoid hearing what others are saying.
Florence gives Ben and Zilchus a look, as if to say, "Just humor her, alright?"
Sense Motive
Zilchus returns with a bug eyed looks that suggests: Yeah, I've been doing that, humoring the *f$%@* out of her, and look what it's got me..
He sighs. This is so boring.
"You do not understand! You are making a huge error. These leads...The leads I pointed you to...They are our best bet. Don't be ever so superficial! Did I ever failed you in the past? Trust me, my lead is fine. We are going to find every single useful information down here if you follow my method," Ben complains.
"I agree, let's return tomorrow. But tomorrow you will follow my directions, OK?"
The sarcophagus appears to be untapped and un-magiced. Though no one specifically said they were opening the casket, that seems to be the general idea. :)
The seal is broken, a seal that had stood shut for a great many years. The seam fairly bursts open however, and two mummies tumble onto the floor!
But one gets back up (link)...
Benedictus (acts in surprise round)
Cahal
Florence
Nidhi
Zilchus
Good Folk
"I agree, let's return tomorrow. But tomorrow you will follow my directions, OK?"
Zilchus really wants to leave, but sees no need to leave.
"Why do we need to leave? We could stay here, like we did at the other boring library? Might as well get this over with," Zilchus suggests, thinking about taking a nap in a sarcophagus. "We just need to be sure to leave time to get to the barge for the party, right?"
Zilchus begins to rummage....
...mummy attack!
"Assassins! They've come to finish the job!" Nidhi proclaims excitedly as she points to the toppled over undead.
Nidhi will make her Round 1 action after the Good Folks have gone.
- - -
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖
“It’s a construct, not an undead! Use magic, and not use bludgeoning weapons!”
After warning his friends, Ben fires a scorching ray at the construct.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖
After a few seconds, Ben steps back and casts mage armor on himself.
_________________________
Conditions – mage armor (+4 AC, ? hours)
Wizard spells prepared (CL 7th, concentration +13)
[smaller]4th ()― scrying, summon monster IV (2)
3rd ()― fireball , fly , haste,
2st ()―
1st ()― burning hands (x2; DC 17), grease (DC 18), ear-piercing scream (DC 17),
Cantrips ()― dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, prestidigitation
Benedictus launches two deadly rays of fire at the creature, burning it and filling the room with the stench of burning bandages and death. He then steps back and armors himself.
The mummy rises up, steps forward, and lashes out at Benedictus!
As the grapples connect with Benedictus, wrappings come off the mummy and begin to envelop him! Benedictus is grappled and cannot move. The mummy is no longer ‘holding’ Ben with his hands, only the wrappings contain him now as if forming a cocoon… You can try cutting the bandages free (attack as you would webbing and deal damage normally).
Round 1, Init 12
"Oh, Mummy!" Zilchus draws his falchion and moves to the right, readying a strike for when Cahal or Flo are ready with a weapon. He calls upon the Croc to imbue his blade with a bit of magic after Ben let it be known.
to hit; (+grunt,magic,+flank)
adamantine magic slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
HP: 58/58
AC: 22/20 (7 armor, 2 dex, 1 dodge, +2 buckler)
DF: 0/10
Weap: 0/6
Grunting: 1/6 used (+3)
Quick Prayer: 0/6 used
PoP1: 0/1 used
GoodFeelings: 0/2 used
Weapon: 1/7 rounds used
Armor: 0/7 minutes used
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not used
Rage: maybe later
"Humoring me? That wasn't a joke!" She pulls out her bow.
Nidhi begins to sing, inspiring the party.
Ben tries to break free from the grapple.
"Someone! Help!"
Florence manages a Prayer, and though it helps the party, it does not seem to effect the mummy. Nidhi begins singing and breaks out her bow. Cahal without flank, still connects twice and once with a critical (Zilchus delayed to get the flank so Cahal lost out). Zilchus strikes with certainty after delaying for flank with Cahal. Benedictus tries to break free but cannot.
The mummy changes his focus to Cahal, though his wrappings continue to bedevil Benedictus as the wrappings close in on his lithe frame.
As the grapples connect with Cahal, further wrappings come off the mummy and begin to envelop her as Benedictus is enveloped! The mummy is no longer ‘holding’ either with his hands, only the wrappings contain them now as if forming a cocoon… You can try cutting the bandages free (attack as you would webbing and deal damage normally).
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"I take it back! Humoring Nidhi was a bad idea!"
Zilchus grunts in response, unable to speak given the ebb and flow of this combat. He was enjoying thinking about humoring Nidhi, but maybe he should be humoring Ben instead.
Poor Ben. Still struggling with his mummy issues.
No, that's not quite right.
Oh, Ben, you shouldn't get so wrapped up in your work!
That's better.
Maybe this is why Ben can't connect with Flo...he's too wrapped up in himself!
Ow. That was mean. Be nice.
Uh, Cahal is looking more tense. She's getting all wound up.
Good one, you. *mental high five*
Ooh...Ben's almost all covered! I wonder if he'll like being a mummy...uh...*of corpse* he will!
Oh, that's a winner! Say that!
Round 2, Init 12
Zilchus grunts and swings again, having nothing at all to say.
to hit; (+grunt,+magic,+flank,+prayer)
adamantine magic slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+10[/dice] to hit; (+bull,+haste,+DF,+bard)
[ dice]2d4+12[/dice] adamantine slashing damage.
HP: 58/58
AC: 22/20 (7 armor, 2 dex, 1 dodge, +2 buckler)
DF: 0/10
Weap: 0/6
Grunting: 2/6 used (+3)
Quick Prayer: 0/6 used
PoP1: 0/1 used
GoodFeelings: 0/2 used
Weapon: 1/7 rounds used
Armor: 0/7 minutes used
Smite: not used
Grit: not used
Panache: are you kidding me?
Ki: not used
Rage: maybe later
Oh, no. That's not an assassin. Nidhi continues to inspire the party Nidhi observe's Ben's face start to turn an unsightly shade of purple so she casts Cure Moderate Wounds on him. "Don't faint, Ben! And if you see a light at the end of a tunnel, don't take it!"
2nd level, 4/day: 1 Cure Moderate Wounds (self), 2 Cure Moderate Wounds (Ben)
3rd level, 2/day: 1 Terrible Remorse
Nidhi, You're standing next to the mummy, but not Ben.
You could move to Ben, which would get you an AoO from the mummy, but then you could cast the spell safely (if you're not stopped by grappling wrappings of your own).
You could 5' step to Ben and cast defensively (DC 17 concentration check) which would avoid all AoOs, but you might lose the spell if you fail the concentration check.
What would you like to do?
There's a table, here (link) and I erred. The DC is actually 19 (you're casting a second level spell), but with that roll you made it.
Ben, who is not doing well at all (below half), is healed by Nidhi.
Just a note, when sharing your health with other players, stick to the basics. Over half, less than half, staggered, & unconscious. More information than that requires a heal check, or certain spells like Status (which are a little more powerful in my campaigns).
Benedictus pulls out his wand of grease and casts the spell on himself.
"Bleah! Disgusting!"
"I...It is not letting me go!" cries out Ben as he struggles in vain.
Florence attempts to cut Ben free, but fails to shred the wrapping. Nidhi continues to inspire, steps to Ben, and heals him significantly. Cahal builds up to it, and eventually breaks the grapple! Zilchus unsure what to say, connects with the mummy and brings it down as it collapses before you. Benedictus tries to break free, but cannot though the bandages are now loose and begin to fall away with the destruction of the mummy.
The room grows quiet, save for the heavy breathing of the party as they collect their wits and look around. Khnenti’s mummified body lies on the floor where it fell out unmoving like a dead body should.
"Oh, Hells..."
Ben breathes heavily. He is covered in a slimy green substance he coated himself with, and seriously wounded. It takes almost a minute for him to calm himself and go back to lucid thinking.
"That was close..."
The scholar stands up, still slightly shaking. "Can someone take care of these?" he asks, looking at his wounds.
"And let me tell you, opening the sarcophagus was a really bad idea!"
***
Before leaving for the night, Benedictus searches the room one last time.
Zilchus tries not to laugh as he helps Ben unwrap.
"Ben, why are you wound up so tight? Been grappling with something, have you?" Zilchus draws his wand of CMW.
CMW - Ben
CMW - Ben
CMW - Cahal
Zilchus puts his wand away, still giggling to himself as if he were funny.
Nidhi bends down to examine the motionless body (not golem) She also casts detect magic.
He's well mummified so it's impossible to say what he died from without at least unwrapping him. Further the body is very old, so even then it'll be tough. HIs head is intact however, with jaw bone, even after all that time.
You find nothing else in the sarcophagus.
Do you investigate the other secret door, or head out?
"And let me tell you, opening the sarcophagus was a really bad idea!"
Nidhi puts her bow away and stands with her torch out. "Sorry, I thought seeing his body would give us more answers." Nidhi shakes her head: "but I can't figure out how he died just by looking."
"Ben, why are you wound up so tight? Been grappling with something, have you?"
Nidhi would normally laugh at a joke like this, but because Zilchus said it, her face deadpans. "As much as I enjoy looking at the cartouches Ben pointed out earlier, I agree: we should leave for the night."
The lead lining the sarcophagus was very old. It was not a recent thing, but more recent than the death. Could be a dozen years separated them, could be a hundred, but it was still very long ago. Not the work of some current assassin.
Zilchus repeats what he said before about leaving.
Zilchus really wants to leave, but sees no need to leave.
"Why do we need to leave? We could stay here, like we did at the other boring library? Might as well get this over with," Zilchus suggests, thinking about taking a nap in a sarcophagus. "We just need to be sure to leave time to get to the barge for the party, right?"
"In addition, leaving leaves us open to assassins. We should stay here where it's safe," Zilchus adds on, knowing it will tweak the right person in the wrong way.
Nidhi will second Zilchus' suggestion. "Staying here doesn't sound bad."
"In addition, leaving leaves us open to assassins. We should stay here where it's safe."
"Safe? You must be kidding me! We have been here a few hours and the Gods know what we had to endure: two exploding traps and this construct which nearly killed me..."
Benedictus does not like the idea of staying for the night. To his eyes, the threat of assassins (who he didn't see personally) is far less clear and proximate than what the party faced until now in the Dark Archive.
The scholar will advocate for his position, hoping to convince the party that leaving this place for the moment is the best solution. But if that does not work, Benedictus is not willing to split the party, so he stays overnight. He grumbles for a few minutes, but then falls asleep, too tired to complain.
The party stays the night in the Deep Depository, though somewhat unwillingly on the part of some. However the night passes uneventfully - the cool dry air of the crypt is a little chilling, but not overly uncomfortable with a blanket or two.
In the morning you rise early, ready to face a new day! It is Sunday 29 Sarentih, 4714, and you have a date - a dinner in your honor! Don't be late...
In the morning, Zilchus will take his time to examine the secret door...then open it when others are ready.
As soon as he realizes Zilchus is planning to explore the Dark Archive, Ben speaks to him first, and then he addresses the whole party. "Take care with that door...And let's be over with it quick. We need to research."
GMPC Cahal moves up to the door. GMPC Florence moves up to the door. GMPC Nidhi moves up to the door
Zilchus opens the secret door to reveal a series of high walls blanketed in hieroglyphs forming a twisting maze of narrow corridors in this chamber. Shelves, recesses, cabinets, and cubbyholes crammed with scrolls, stone slates, and wax tablets line these walls. Though you carry light with you, the room seems to suck it up, leaving long flowing shadows around you. You have found the Shadow Stacks.
However, before he has time to really examine the play of the light, a large hound slinks in from the shadows, and bays… Almost immediately, two other hounds take up the call and the whole library echoes with their howling.
Everyone please make a DC 16 will save or be panicked with fear for 1d4 rounds (individually rolled).
- - -
Benedictus (acts in surprise round)
Cahal
Florence
Nidhi
Zilchus
Hounds
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖
The shadowy hounds do not frighten Ben.
Questions: DR, Special Abilities, SR
“Shadow mastiffs! They are evil outsiders, watch out!”
Immediately after warning his friends, Benedictus starts pronouncing the long and complicated words for a summon monster IV spell.
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖
After the hounds make their move, Ben is ready to summon his creatures.
As he completes the formula, five small earth elementals appear in the room and immediately attack the scholar’s foes! Ben will summon the elementals where they can flank their enemies .
Benedictus was definitely not expecting to be capable of unleashing such a power. Mouth agape, the scholar quickly gets back to lucid reasoning and uses his wand of magic missile (CL 7th, 49 charges remaining) to further damage his foes. He targets the same hound with all of his missiles, if possible.
_________________________
Conditions –
Wizard spells prepared (CL 7th, concentration +13)
[smaller]4th ()― scrying, summon monster IV (2)
3rd ()― fireball , fly , haste, summon monster III
2st ()―
1st ()― burning hands (x2; DC 17), grease (DC 18), ear-piercing scream (DC 17), mage armor, magic missile, true strike
Cantrips ()― dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, prestidigitation