Morharis stumbles backwards at the sudden scene before finding his footing.
"A tale like that is enough to make a tavern break into tears." Morharis says somberly before slipping the ring on.
"Ah, young love. Dangerous in so many ways."
Malik sighs deeply, "I can see now that this job requires not only physical fortitude and the ability to face monsters, but an inner strength to push past the darkness you may find in the past."
"Indeed. Sometimes the spirits of the past do have a tendency to try and influence the present...or their future. I can't remember which way is the correct way to say it," Khere says scratching his head a bit.
Hajar internally weeps at the scene that passed, the all too knowing feel of broken promises and unforeseen tragedies. Some things were not meant to be and others were meant to be crushed. Very rarely did one have a chance to make light in the prevailing darkness of regret.
" We have... much more to explore. Let the darkness be held down inside for the moment. Grief comes after Duty... "
Khere nodded, saying, "I agree Hajar. Hopefully we can explore this ancient site of suffering."
You move into the courtyard.
A tiled walkway surrounds a square patch of earth and sand
in this high atrium. A balcony on the second floor overlooks
the courtyard, and a square hole in the ceiling opens to the
sky. Four columns in the corners of the atrium support the
roof above, and the walls are decorated with symbols and
hieroglyphs depicting animals, celestial creatures, and the sun
and moon.
In the center of the courtyard is a statue of a beautiful woman. It turns to you and asks "Who are you?
"Okay...that's not normal."
Khere wondered what this strange talking statue was.
He mumbled a soft prayer to Anubis asking the jackal headed lord if this strange being was good or evil.
Malik is fascinated by the talking statue, "I suppose you could call us explorers, or perhaps reclaimers. We are here to catalog what happened and save any priceless artifacts so the past may not be forgotten. We certainly haven't met a talking statue before, but you are certainly an incredible remnant of what once was."
You're pretty sure this creature is being deceptive in some way.
"I am Jeggare. Pleased to meet you Miss...?"
The statue smiles gently at Jeggare. "I am the spirit of the house." Then she looks at the rest of the party, clearly waiting for you to answer her question, also.
[ooc]So what next, guys? Do you keep talking, or something else?
Khere whispers to the others that the creature in front of them reeks of evil. He points at his holy symbol to indicate of how he knows that the creature is indeed evil.
"Well, she certainly doesn't seem unfriendly at least. Kind of weird to see a statue made of sand though."
"Why does this house have an evil spirit?" he asks.
Khere shrugs his shoulders, but replies in a whisper to Jeggare, " I am a holy warrior of Anubis and I asked him if this being before of us is good or evil. And he answered: he showed that the creature is indeed evil. Plus, I sense that it is being deceptive."
The dwarf turns towards the evil spirit of the house, slipping his hand to the warhammer. "Alright, listen up spirit of tha house. What be yer intentions ta me companions? Seriously, we've had a long day already and we'd really just like ta go ta tha party where we ken whether if ye have ill thoughts and deeds ahead of ye, or if ye be here ta help us?"
Morharis quietly ponders to himself as he lets his new-found companions speak to the statue.
I bet more than a few woman wouldn't mind having their beauty memorialized.
Hajar peers upon the womanly figure. She was clearly made of material unlike those of flesh but spoke nonetheless. Khere's warning gave him pause, though he summoned up a shred of decency, even for the creature's announced level of deception.
" I am Hajar, Chosen by Osiris, Gifted by the Sands. I shall ask you a similar question. What do you seek in your deception? "
When the statue hears your discussion, it changes to appear less beautiful and more dangerous. "I seek your torment, of course!" laughs the thing in a gravelly voice.
Hajar momentarily closes his eyes.
" Then you seek poor judgement. "
The sands rise around the man as it solidifies, before launcing at the creatures head.
At the statue's words Malik splays his hands out in front of him and roars arcane words, a blast of eye searing colour launches toward the creature.
The creature roars in anger, but seems unable to do anything. However, those who are close enough feel an urge to close their eyes and rest.
Malik, in order to cast a spell with range of 15 ft, you need to move up closer to the enemy. I've moved your token for you, but feel free to adjust.
Malik, Jeggare, and Hajar, will save to stay awake. Now that the creature has activated this ability, anyone who tries to get close enough to melee attack has to roll such a save when they get within 15 ft. If you make the save once, you are immune for the rest of the day.
Hajar's blast of sand misses the enemy.
Jeggare, you know this is some kind of evil outsider.
Hajar steels his mind against the creatures sleeping effect.
Having broken the gaze the bronze man launches an assault of sand at her once more.
Jeggare moves in, the urge to rest washing off him like a wave on a cliff. He lashes out with his gauntlet, spikes growing from the knuckles as he slams them toward the creature.
The spikes embed themselves in the sand, crippling the creature with pain.
Grimacing, the dwarf tightens his grip on his warhammer and makes his way to the enemy.
Hajar stays awake.
Jeggare damages the sand thing.
Braydir stays awake.
Malik falls asleep.
Hajar's bolt flies fast, but was it truly accurate?
Hajar's bolt goes right past the sand thing.
Morharis fires his soulbolt at the statue.
Khere growled before charging at the sand creature, swinging his flail at it. He was sure it was an it.
Morharis's bolt sinks into the sand thing.
Khere charges at the sand thing. His flail hits, but only because the enemy didn't seem to see the attack coming.
Braydir swings his warhammer at the enemy, but his warhammer misses the sand thing.
The sand creature can see now, but looks around, seeming to be confused.
Jeggare summons a fare of orange energy around his fists and einds back for an extra strong punch!
As Jeggare's fist connects, the sand creature disintegrates and sand drifts down to the ground like snow, leaving only a pile of sand.
After Jeggare's extra strong punch that turns the creature into a pile of sand, Braydir points out the strange disturbance in it. He walks over and gently shakes Malik,"Time ta wake back up lad, we're nae quite through for tha day yet I'm afraid."
"Eh, look at that thar. Looks oddly out of place, doesn't it?"
A little sifting through the sand reveals a suit of +1 scale mail, a +1 light crossbow, five cold iron crossbow bolts, 10 regular crossbow bolts, a gold holy symbol of Sarenrae, and a handful of coins and gems.
You go on into the last room on this floor of the building. When you look through the doorway, you see three skeletons standing at attention. They appear from their dress and weapons to have been household guards.
"Did nothing in this place stay dead? What roused them so?"