The ground of the alcoves and the corridors is covered with a light dusting of sand, which looked undisturbed in the corridor before the pathfinders entered. Underneath the sand the same stone is found that covers the walls and ceilings of the corridor.
Each alcove contains one sarcophagus, standing against the north or south wall. The sand before each sarcophagus has probably been disturbed by the skeletons when they stepped out of the sarcophagus. Each skeleton was dressed in the remnants of clothing and a chain shirt while they where armed with a scimitar. Their armor and weapons are in bad shape.
Benson is not able to decipher the runes on the boxlike object. You can see no lid or opening mechanism.
They are white stone boxes, fit to contain a man and do not have a lid.
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"So the people who built this either positioned these sarcophagi here with necromantic magic in place to provide guardians for the contents of the end room, or they were buried here but someone later enchanted their bones to rise up and attack anyone who came into the room. The fact that they had armor and weapons suggests they were definitely meant to guard the contents. Of course, that may have only been to prevent intruders from violating the sanctity of the tomb, but how much sanctity can remain after you've impressed the dead to the curse of unlife just to act as guards."
Benson keeps up this stream of consciousness talk as he looks around and studies what he can see.
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"Huh, I was thinking there would be something more... mighty, this being Azlanti stuff.", Saitama ponders aloud. Not having any other ideas, Saitama muses, "I was told that if you aren't sure of what something is, perhaps a tap of knowledge would improve the situation.", before punching the box-like object.
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"But if Dreng cracked corn and nobody cared, then why did they write a song about it?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Saitama easily hits the box and it moves to the back of the alcove in the pillar as a result of his punch. Nothing else happens.
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Benson jumps back as Saitama punches the box. When nothing happens, he sighs, shakes his head, and goes over and attempts to pick up the box. He turns it over in his hands to see if it sounds as if there is anything inside. He looks to see if it might be some kind of puzzle box which can be opened with the right combinations of pokes, prods, or sliding of segments.
After a bit of this, he gives up in frustration and sets the box down for someone else to look at. Then he examines the niche to see if it contains anything like a keyhole. "Might the key that opened the complex also open something in here?" he wonders aloud.
Benson is investigating the box, but it is just a plain stone box with engravings on it. There are no moving parts.
The niche is seemingly created at the same time as the stone pillar it is stone without any markings.
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"If nothing else, maybe you can smack some apes in the head with the box?" Raevin chuckles at Saitama's expense, but then the jest quickly fades as the horns continue to sound urgently. "Perhaps though we should go to their aid and finish exploring this later, though it looks like there's not much left to be done with it?"
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"Perhaps the scholars of the camp can use it for some other purpose. Seems odd to go to this much trouble to hide the thing and lock it away. There were some other ruins partly exposed up there, including a strange dome. In any case, there does not seem to be much else that will save the day down, except maybe us."
From outside you hear a enormous crashing sound, while you also hear wood splintering.
The box radiates a strong aura of enchantment and transmutation magic.
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"Hmm, let's have a look," Wyeth says, taking the box from Benson and passing a hand over it. "మేజిక్ కనుగొను!" he chants. "Yes... definite aura, Benson. Let's see..." he says as he studies the cube a bit longer.
He nods and hands the cube back. "Enchantment and transmutation schools. The aura's quite strong, too. Sorry I'm not practiced enough to tell you much more than that."
At the crashing sound and remarks about leaving he huffs, "Now see here! I was perfectly willing to defend the place and you lot went toddling off on a sight-seeing tour. Now when she tells us to find something powerful in here you're all about to rush back out to do what I was doing earlier. Surely we don't think that," he says, ducking his head toward the cube, "is the 'powerful thing' that's to save the encampment?"
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Benson will take the cube and say, "After you. I'll bring this through last. I'm not as practiced interpreting such things as you, but I would wager taking this out will activate those hulking statues to come fight for whoever has the dingus! Why else put this at the back protected by guardians? One way to find out." He gestures and takes a deep breath before following the team back out to the entrance.
You walk back to the entrance and are amazed by what you see. It's the Blakros Museum all over again! But then supersized..... A huge, sixarmed monkey has thrown a big boulder on the palisade wall and loads of limber, shrieking creatures with the basic shape of an enraged monkey have used the opportunity to attack the pathfinders inside the walls. The monkeys walk upright like a human and carry clubs and stones in their hands.
You see your fellow pathfinders fighting for their lives and also notice that the aspis men you let in the palisade earlier are now fighting side by side with their rivals. The big ape is smashing down on some unfortunate Aspis Agents when you move out the door. Just at that moment Benson decides to faint, he falls forward on the stairs, unconscious.
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Initiative
Benson
Marduk
Raevin
Wyeth
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Apes
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Saitama
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King Kong
See information under campaign info, pick any golem you want;-). You need to squeeze to get outside.
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.......
"By Irori's divine fist, what madness is this?!"
Marduk looks sideways to Wyeth and Saitama, both having been with him at the Blakros museum.
"That ape is huge and...Benson? Benson this is no time to faint."
His half-orc blood pumping, he cracks his knuckles.
"I suggest we take the apes as they come instead of spreading out."
Marduk heads down, stopping besides a tree in the west.
Initiative
Benson
Wyeth
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Apes
- - -
Saitama
- - -
King Kong
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Marduk
Raevin
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"One... two... three... four... five... wait... one... two... three..."
As Wyeth repeatedly loses count while tallying ape arms, he just barely becomes aware of movement behind him. Looking back over his shoulder he says, "Uh... guys..." as he jerks a thumb in that direction.
With difficulty, he tears his eyes from the spectacle behind him and scrambles up out of the excavation, pulling and loading his crossbow as he goes. Dropping to one knee he props an elbow on his leg and sights for a long shot.
Once again displaying the sort of crossbowing that gets talked about in taverns everywhere, his shot goes so wide it almost hits the next monkey over. But, sadly, not quite.
"'Ware the flying poo!" he shouts in warning to those who might lack experience with monkey matters.
Two of the apes close in on you while the others are occupied elsewhere. One of the apes charges Marduk will swinging a club in a mighty arc and hits Marduk on his left cheek, giving him a nasty bruise! The other ape moves toward Wyeth
Everyone who is outside notes that the sphere in the southwestern part of the camp is shining brightly, it hurts to look at it.
Initiative
Saitama
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King Kong
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Marduk 18/22
Raevin
Wyeth
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Apes
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Saitama's chakram flies of into some bushes. The very big six-armed ape destroys a hut with his left arm, another with his other left arm and yet another with his right arm. He then moves his last hand behind his back, but slightly lower, a satisfied look comes over his face and he then throws a mule-load of manure on some aspis consortium agents that are cowering nearby.
Reavin choses that moment to step outside and fires an arrow at the apeman in front of Wyeth, hitting it! Behind you the big statue starts wringing itself through the corridor. It scrapes against the walls while doing so but cautiously steps over Benson's unconscious body.
Initiative
Marduk 18/22
Wyeth
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Apes
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Saitama
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King Kong
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Raevin
Statue