The bustling city of Wati is near bursting with excitement. Adventures from every corner of the inner sea region have assembled here beneath the hot Osirian sun to explore the tombs of the city's necropolis, waiting only to be assigned their first sites for exploration. Surrounding the participants, the public has gathered to observe the ceremony as well. There is a festival-like quality in the air, and numerous street vendors are hawking goods and refreshments to participants and spectators alike. Some merchants have even brought what can only be considered adventuring gear to sell as last minute convenience items to explorers, while others advertise that they'll buy recovered treasures and antiquities from those who visit their establishments. In front of the imposing edifice of the Grand Mausoleum, an immense awning has been erected between decorated pillars in the market to provide shade for the priests of Pharasma overseeing the lottery. Beneath the awning, two urns sit atop a table elevated a few feet above the ground on a wooden stage constructed for the event. The high priestess of the Grand Mausoleum, Sebti the Crocodile, sits behind the table, while two acolytes confer with her at either side.
Caius saunters closer to the wooden stage, taking his time to observe the competition.
"This should be quite interesting..." He says as he scans the area.
The good doctor Hibbins has been sitting in front of the Grand Mausoleum since before the crowd started to gather... mainly because there may have been a party here the night before, and the doctor may have gotten a bit sloshed... but he is not about to admit to that now.
"Hail boys, looking forward to this little excursion aye? Going to be a proper dig and all it seems."
Akbari had tried to get to bed early the night before, but there had been a bit of a sending off celebration, just in case. His head was still aching slightly in the sun from it. He followed after Kyrus and Caius, his mind unconsciously noticing similarities in the sounds of their names. He gave a nod to Dr. Hibbins and tried to appear every bit as confident, and steady, as he should be.
"This will be an honor, in addition to hopefully being profitable. I bet we get to find some interesting text and art, too."
He tried to be patient as they waited to find out where they would be allowed to go.
Rashim follows along with the group, an eager and cocky grin on his face. "We will find great things, I am sure." He saunters up to where Dr. Hibbins is sitting, and sits down next to him. "This where we're waiting? Anything interesting happening yet?"
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Kyrus leans over and whispers conspiratorially in Rashim's ear, "The one on the left is Kharis, a trained killer. He is watching the crowd for trouble. The one on the right is Nekhes. He is scanning for any hint of magical interference. There will be at least two of the faithful watching from beneath the veil of invisibility. The Church is intent on the lottery being delivered with honesty."
All of which is fantasy. Kyrus does not know any of this, as he was schooled at a different wing of the temple. He is trying to appear more valuable to the party.
Marius arrives at the Sunburst market square shortly before the lottery is scheduled to begin. His wide brimmed hat was pulled down low over his eyes to block the noonday sun. Still he squinted into the glaring light searching the crowd for his team. "His team" he thinks to himself as he walks. Some he worked with before, others he'd only heard of through reputation, and a couple were recommendations from contacts from his Society days. Yesterday was the first time they had all been together and after a long day of drinking and swapping stories at the Tooth and Hookah, the name the 'Sand Scarabs' had been proposed and adopted as the groups moniker. Shortly thereafter Marius had registered the name and received his token for the lottery from the priests of the Grand Mausoleum.
Today, with that token in the belt pouch at his waist, he finally finds the rest of the party at a nearby well either chatting away happily or nursing their heads from the night before. As he approaches the group he hears Kyrus pointing out the people he knows up on the platform and his knowledge of the procedures.
"Good call including the Pharasmin in the party, he might be able to grease the wheels of the theocracy with his contacts." "Good morning, everyone. A good day for a dig, don't you think." he calls out as he approaches.
Rashim nods along with interest as Kyrus explains the various players. Someone looking for magical interference? There goes that plan... "Good! Things should be fair here."
As Marius makes his interest, Rashim looks up at him. The group leader, such as he is. Hope he has more than a silver tongue. "Morning" he says, with a small inclination of the head.
A voice shouts over the crowd "Silence! Let the lottery begin! Although many of you have requested specific sites to explore, we must leave these matters to fate. The Lady of Graves is a far better judge of destiny than we of this mortal sphere. The gates of the necropolis will open at sunrise tomorrow. Use this evening to prepare yourselves for the task ahead. Let these rules guide you in your endeavors in this holy place: remember how this came to pass, every slave's hut is a memorial, and honor the departed. May you go with the Lady's blessing."
Sebti returns to her seat one of the acolytes speaks "We will be drawing group names randomly, once you hear your group name please hastily send one representative to approach the stage to receive your assignment. He reaches into a urn a few times and after a couple minutes you hear "Sand Scarabs, please approach" You lucky individuals have been assigned to explore here" He points on a map
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For those watching, which given the momentus news will hopefully be few, Kyrus' eye's widen noticably when the Sand Scarabs's name is called. As ever when the Lady demonstrates her power to direct the fate of mortals, Kyrus is surprised and humbled. He had doubts that the plan would come off, and feared deep inside he would have to return to the cloister a failure. I should have had more faith he chides himself; for is not Pharasma mistress of prophesy as well as guardian of the dead?
To the others, he merely turns and raises a sardonic eyebrow, waiting for one of the team to step forward and claim the prize.
Hibbins stares at the map, having no idea what he is looking at. "One place is as good as any other. Maybe fortune will shine on us tomorrow."
Once the groups name has been called, Marius walks up the stairs to the top of the platform and presents his token to one of the acolytes, to verify it's authenticity, before accepting the map.
Akbari listened quietly as things were explained. He smirked at the probable disappointment of those trying to request specific locations - as if that would have been granted!
When their team name was called, he walked up with his group. He looked at the map and tried to memorize the location, even as he tried to rack his brain for anything he could think of about it.
For those watching, which given the momentus news will hopefully be few, Kyrus' eye's widen noticably [Dice=Bluff, Sense Motive test to notice] 1d20+0 when the Sand Scarabs's name is called. As ever when the Lady demonstrates her power to direct the fate of mortals, Kyrus is surprised and humbled. He had doubts that the plan would come off, and feared deep inside he would have to return to the cloister a failure. I should have had more faith he chides himself; for is not Pharasma mistress of prophesy as well as guardian of the dead?
To the others, he merely turns and raises a sardonic eyebrow, waiting for one of the team to step forward and claim the prize.
i let yours and Akbari's checks go threw. the tomb you are to explore predates the Plague of Madness, your knowledge tells you it is located in the city's original cemetery in the eastern section of the
necropolis.
Rashim clenches his fist in excitement when their name is called. He will go up with the rest of the group to look at the map.
Caius gives Kyrus an incredulous stare as Kyrus describes the various priests on the stage.
He gives Kyrus a nudge on the shoulder, "That is good to know Kyrus. I am glad to have a member of the clergy with us.", he says with a smirk.
He then moves to stand near the others. "So do we need any particular supplies for this excursion?"
Akbari stroked his chin as he considered things. He spread his hands a little bit as he spoke again, quietly. "Well, if my recollection is correct, the tomb we are to explore predates the Plague of Madness. Also, I believe it is located in the city's original cemetery actually."
He shrugged a bit. "I'm not certain that gives us any help in supplies to bring that we wouldn't have for a newer tomb...', and something occurred to him with speaking that aloud, "except maybe oil to grease old and unused doors, gates, what have you. The air may be harder to breathe."
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Kyrus gives Caius a sly wink in return. Crossing his arms he waits patiently whilst others have their say. Then, in a conversational lull, he speaks "Time passes. Others will have entered the Necropolis by now. What certainty do we have that they will respect their allocated tomb? I suggest we make haste."
Caius looks to his companions. "Well I'm going to look around the market and get a few last minute supplies. I'll meet up later tonight at the Tooth and Hookah."
With that Caius heads off into the crowd.
When the next morning arrives, Akbari is ready. He has his leather lamellar armor on, the falchion and backpack strapped to his back. He checks through the backpack one more time to make sure he hasn't left anything behind. He then eagerly awaits the opening of the gates, so they can go see what they have in store for them. He struggles to keep the excitement off his face and hidden from his body language.
Caius makes his way towards the gates to the necropolis. He stops near Akbari with his hand resting upon his rapier.
"I wonder what we shall find within this tomb."
Rashim makes his way to the necropolis along with his companions; unlike Akbari, he isn't even trying to hide his excitement. A small skip goes along with each step, and a grin is on his face. "All manner of fascinating things, for sure. Glory awaits!"
Hibbins is sober for the first time any of you can remember, the smile normally plastered on his face has been replaced with a look of annoyance. "Looks like we are all set. Good luck gentleman, let's try not to lose anyone today."
A rectangular stone mausoleum sits alone in what appears to have once been an actual cemetery. The trunks of a few dead trees poke out of the sand around the tomb, and a hot breeze whistles through their desiccated branches. A set of massive stone double doors is affixed to the northern side of the structure, beneath a facade bearing the likeness of an Osirian
man. Windblown sand is heaped around the crypt, partially burying the doors that lead within.
Caius approaches and takes a moment to look around the tomb. His face scrunches up as the hot wind hits his face.
He takes notice of the likeness of the Osirian man and rubs his chin seemingly in thought.
"So who wants to check the doors and open them?"
He then rests his hand upon the hilt of his rapier, seemingly ready to draw the blade at a moments notice.
Akbari stared at the tomb in silence for a long moment, just taking in the sight and the moment. Then he looked down and frowned slightly. "Does anyone have a shovel? I almost bought one yesterday but then I thought, we are going to a tomb, why would I need a shovel?" He let out a sigh as he gestured to the sand piled up on the doors.
Marius will approach the doors and gently run his hands along the seams of the door searching for anything that might spring a trap.
"Oh good, that will sound great around the tavern tonight. Oh, how did it go? Well, we lost due to sand." If no one has a shovel, Hibbins will start pushing the sand by hand as best as he can.
"I can take care of the sand" Rashim says with a cocky grin on his face. He turns to the doors, standing a good 20 feet away, and a heap of sand start moving away from the doors, levitating off to the side before returning to the ground out of the way. One by one, more heaps move themselves to the side, until the door is clear.
Caius begins to feel around the door and soon reveals concealed handles upon the stone doors. His hands trace down the seams of the door and he picks a piece of mortar from the frame.
"It would seem the door used to be sealed shut... presumably to never be opened again. But it look to have been already forced open..." He says as he points to a groove in the doors seams.
"It looks like a crowbar was used to pry open the door. So either grave robbers have already emptied this tomb or we may not be alone once we enter."
He ponders for a moment. "Does the name Akhentepi mean anything to any of you. I recongize the likeness from somewhere but I can't quite remember if it's significant."
Marius will take a moment to ponder the writing on the door.
"With any luck, the would be tomb robbers fell afoul of some trap or another and have only managed to make our work easier for us."
Akbari glared at Dr. Hibbins for the unhelpful attitude. He was surprised when Rashim said he could move the sand and then an unseen force started to do just that! His eyes widened a bit and his eyebrows shot upwards. He watched silently for a moment and then nodded. "A very useful gift, I am sure."
He let out a small unhappy grunt when informed that someone else had pried the tomb open previously. He gave a nod to Dr. Hibbins, "Let us hope you are correct."
"Indeed, it helps from time to time" Rashim replies to Akbari with a small grin.
Marius will take a moment to ponder the writing on the door.
[dice=Linguistics check]1d20+6
Your skilled knowledge lets you deceiver some of words. you can tell that the deceased was born in 2416 AR and died in 2488 AR
Both akbari and rashim: Not alot of information is known about him, other then he was born in 2416 AR and died in 2488 AR.
"I've heard of Akhentepi, but not much about him. Born in 2416, died in 2488." Turning to the door, Rashim will say "Not getting any younger, let's hop to it."
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"Gentlemen let's get moving. It feels like we have been working this one door for almost a week. At this rate by the time we clear the tomb we'll be as old as him" guesturing at the instription.
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Akbari listened to and then nodded at Rashim's words. "I remember the same information." He watched with fascination as the telekinetic power was used first on the sand and then on the doors. He stepped up to help wrestle the doors open and then let the others step inside to check for traps.
Following the example set by the previous tomb robber, Marius pulls a crowbar from his pack and wedges it into the door jamb. Then putting all his weight behind it he begins to pry the door open