Hrmpf. You there, Hamza is your name, right? You said you have a mmap of this place before? Can you show it to me? Perhaps we find a good way to go on that map...
Be welcome half-giant, whereever you come from and how...
Amunet-Ra is clearly sceptical and not pleased about another magic entry.
I hope you are friendly and serve us well, if half of what we just heard is true, we can really use another strong arm. You look like you can take some hits, that's good. You served Cae's mistress as well and search her now?
"I did,"the giant rumbled. "Now I serve Cae."
It wasn't much of an explanation, but apparent;y the big guy through it was sufficient.
Unsure how this happened, Cae has no idea how to answer Amunet-Ra. Instead, he focuses on Raxus.
"Brother, you must be mistaken
About the lady you have forsaken.
She would not lead any astray,
It is her you should obey."
He scratches an itch at the back of his head.
Amunet-Ra frowns at the taciturn halt-giant and the rhyming sunnyboy.
This looks like two stray cats for me, looking for a new mistress. We will see how good at running and dancing you are. Your old mistress seems more and more dubious though. What was or is her business in these tombs and her relation to all of this?
Rilkus sent his telepathic message again.
"I have conversed with the spirits of the earth, and I can get us passage into the complex. Consult the map and tell me where we should go. Hurry, we were warned that the guardians of the tomb will converge on us. We can discuss these matters once we have moved."
After looking over the bodies of Archillobator and Paralitian, Hamza pulls out his map. "Where exactly are you trying to get to? This map is rater handy, and can probably help guide us there, as it brought me here."
Ri'Kli'Klek comes over to Hamza. "It is unfortunate, but I know little of the details of this place. As I think upon the past it is possible I was already under suspicion before I openly supported the foes of the Red God."
He considers the map with head cocked slightly to one side. "It is very strange that one would have a map of their interiors, much less combined with so much else of the area. From whence didst thou obtain such a thing?"
Hamza bows with a flourish and when he straightens his appearance has changed. "I am merchant and purveyor of the exotic, unsual and odd. Peculiarities like this map fall into my possession all the time."
Raxus shook his head. "Mistress Arsionehas retreated to the ruins of Kalidnay. She has allied herself with otherworld creatures of the deeps. Slassans, they call themselves. Together, they breed swarms of hungering beetles which feed on mind powers and magic. They will release these things on Balic. Her purpose is to overthrow the tyrant, but she will release monsters into the city to do it. I will not serve one who would do such a thing."
After looking over the bodies of Archillobator and Paralitian, Hamza pulls out his map. "Where exactly are you trying to get to? This map is rater handy, and can probably help guide us there, as it brought me here."
At Hamza's instigation, the small image of the tomb enlarges on the strange map, obscuring the brightly-drawn depiction of the surrounding landscape and displaying a top-down scheme of what must be the floor plan of the ancient kreen sepulcher (). At once, it is apparent that Hamza's current location is indicated by a throbbing, blood red dot, located towards the bottom of the map.
The following notes, likely stemming from the hand of the tiefling who gifted Hamza this enigmatic wonder, reads as follows,
The entrance to the tomb reads "Here lies Kla'tra'i, the Master of the Keys, may he open the way to those who seek it... "[passage damaged]"... the heart of sleep is the soul of the fire. The fires of the soul are the font of life. Great is the will, and mighty the changer, and awful the day of the birth of the maker. The fire is the heart, and the soul is the fire. The spark is beloved of the queen of the flames. She beholds his desire and the wrath of the fire. The world is consumed..."
Is this Ymeri, my queen?
This tomb should hold the keys to the larger complex. The servant of Dargulin resting here was a master trap-builder, according to the lore my servants have retrieved from the city's buried archives. The First Templar was, apparently, particularly interested in this entity, and spent many years in the effort to learn more of its history and powers. Several of the khat-ab-ren-ka-ba-shut-akh-sahu perished attempting to enter -- not as useful as I had hoped. I will have to find a way to implore the devourers to attempt another entrance.
They report the front entrance is protected by a phalanx of stone kreen, some kind of automatons, who possess devastating elemental powers.
Hamza bows with a flourish and when he straightens his appearance has changed. "I am merchant and purveyor of the exotic, unsual and odd. Peculiarities like this map fall into my possession all the time."
The elf strikes a piquant expression, "Well isn't that just the most precious species of an 'explanation'? In fact, that sounds exactly like something I'd say if I were determinedly avoiding a forthright reply. Consequently, I'm unsure whether to commend you or resent the intrusion upon my own habitual prerogatives."
Rokan watches in wonder as the Dwarf disappears into the stone.
He responses to the telepathic message that returns from the stone.
This is a very handy means of moving about the labyrinth. However, while it will remove the trace of our scent, it will not remove trace of our minds and our auras. Further, I only hope those arriving soon do not have similar command of the seemingly fixed barriers of this place. We should not let our guard down behind the stone walls.
We walks towards the place int he wall where Rilkus disappeared and runs his fingers over it, looking for obvious effects of the dwarf's passage.
Vaguely listening to tense exchange behind him, he glances sideways at the bard. Always happy to get the clever last word.
Rokan watches in wonder as the Dwarf disappears into the stone.
He responses to the telepathic message that returns from the stone.
This is a very handy means of moving about the labyrinth. However, while it will remove the trace of our scent, it will not remove trace of our minds and our auras. Further, I only hope those arriving soon do not have similar command of the seemingly fixed barriers of this place. We should not let our guard down behind the stone walls.
We walks towards the place int he wall where Rilkus disappeared and runs his fingers over it, looking for obvious effects of the dwarf's passage.
Vaguely listening to tense exchange behind him, he glances sideways at the bard. Always happy to get the clever last word.
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
Rokan watches in wonder as the Dwarf disappears into the stone.
He responses to the telepathic message that returns from the stone.
This is a very handy means of moving about the labyrinth. However, while it will remove the trace of our scent, it will not remove trace of our minds and our auras. Further, I only hope those arriving soon do not have similar command of the seemingly fixed barriers of this place. We should not let our guard down behind the stone walls.
We walks towards the place int he wall where Rilkus disappeared and runs his fingers over it, looking for obvious effects of the dwarf's passage.
Vaguely listening to tense exchange behind him, he glances sideways at the bard. Always happy to get the clever last word.
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
[dice=Spellcraft, identify magic or psionic item properties with Detect Psionics]1d20+13
Seeing Hamza and Rokan inspecting the bodies of his fallen comrades, the ostensibly now-allied troglodyte comments gravely,
"I would leave their bodies, stranger. I, and the other servants of the slassans carry cursed items, those covered with poison, or otherwise compromised gear to both dissuade and discourage just this sort of bodily plunder. Any given item you may seize may prove more trouble than its potential worth."
"Think what you want elf. The map is in my possession, and I am freely offering it's potent magics to help the group. How I obtained it does not really matter."
"Think what you want elf. The map is in my possession, and I am freely offering it's potent magics to help the group. How I obtained it does not really matter."
"I shall do just that! Does it say anything useful?"
Half-listening to Raxus and Cae he gets curious about the developments they discuss.
Why do you suppose your mistress entered into this alliance? Does she understand that this new power may simply replace one tyrant with another?
Hamza arches an eyebrow at Troodon, "If all this gear is cursed, poison coated or otherwise unusable, how were you able to wield them?"
"Stranger, not all was one thing or the other, but rather distributed deceptively throughout our armory. There are several ways yet that this is possible. Some curses only take hold of those not intended to wield a particular relic. Armor can be coated on its outer surface so that a thief but not it's wearer might come to harm. Some poisons are not such for my race. And some curses do not weary us."
Raxus shook his head. "Mistress Arsionehas retreated to the ruins of Kalidnay. She has allied herself with otherworld creatures of the deeps. Slassans, they call themselves. Together, they breed swarms of hungering beetles which feed on mind powers and magic. They will release these things on Balic. Her purpose is to overthrow the tyrant, but she will release monsters into the city to do it. I will not serve one who would do such a thing."
Cae responds with confidence in his unswerving loyalty.
"It is certain that you misunderstood,
Our lady works toward the greater good."
"You will see in time," Raxus said. Considering the conversation over, he looked around to assess the situation.
"How can I best help?"
Jimbli - who'd been eyeing the gear of the fallen as well - sighs and grumbles after Troodon's warning.
"I feel a fool for heeding your words, but I'd feel twice the fool to snatch a curse after a warning."
He studies the troglodyte again for a tell.
"Excellent, so you're a prefect candidate to choose which pieces of equipment would best to sell once we return to civilization. As well as carrying said gear for us. We will of course cut you in on the profits. Maybe we could rig something to the crocodile to assist in hauling?"
Jimbli - who'd been eyeing the gear of the fallen as well - sighs and grumbles after Troodon's warning.
"I feel a fool for heeding your words, but I'd feel twice the fool to snatch a curse after a warning."
He studies the troglodyte again for a tell.
[dice=Sense Motive vs Trodoon.. does he truly believe the gear is poisoned and cursed?]1d20+12
"Excellent, so you're a prefect candidate to choose which pieces of equipment would best to sell once we return to civilization. As well as carrying said gear for us. We will of course cut you in on the profits. Maybe we could rig something to the crocodile to assist in hauling?"
"Stranger. That sounds to my ears equally as an invitation, a request, and a veiled threat. Are your people all of such a kind as yourself, clothing fangs with velvet words?"
Rilkus emerged from the stone, taking his own (slightly less rocky) form. With his own voice he said "Yes, that is the way of the world. The good ones use words as weapons. The worst rip the life out of the ground, destroying any chance for life to grow, merely for the purpose of genocide. Welcome to bloody Athas." The dwarf's voice dripped with bitterness, his mind still reeling from the psychic torture he had experienced. He had felt defiling magics turn forests into deserts and oceans into little more than silt.
"Now, I am new here. Not as new as you." He said to the half-giant, with a raised eyebrow. "But I do know that we need to move. We have a map, and supposedly ye all know where ye wanted to go when ye found me. So how about we pull it up and talk as we move?"
Rilkus emerged from the stone, taking his own (slightly less rocky) form. With his own voice he said "Yes, that is the way of the world. The good ones use words as weapons. The worst rip the life out of the ground, destroying any chance for life to grow, merely for the purpose of genocide. Welcome to bloody Athas." The dwarf's voice dripped with bitterness, his mind still reeling from the psychic torture he had experienced. He had felt defiling magics turn forests into deserts and oceans into little more than silt.
"Now, I am new here. Not as new as you." He said to the half-giant, with a raised eyebrow. "But I do know that we need to move. We have a map, and supposedly ye all know where ye wanted to go when ye found me. So how about we pull it up and talk as we move?"
Rilkus Ironhand Yesterday, 03:27 pm | Flag | List | Reply
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Damage (0) Wounds (36/44) Vigor (56) AC (34/25/29, +4 Stone Shield, +2 Air) Saves (9/9/15, +4 Hardy) Initiative (+7) Lvl 1 (6/6) Lvl 2 (4/5) Lvl 3 (4/4) Sword Spells (3/5) Mythic (7/9) Sword Surge (2/2) Acid Dart (9/9)Four hours/lvl each day, I can turn into a medium earth elemental with 10ft burrow. He currently has the choice of becoming an earth or air elemental. At lvl 8 this becomes 20ft glide. As a druid, I can cast Stoneshape 4 times per day. This, as per the spell description, can create a door.
Rilkus used wildshape to turn into an elemental, and burrowed into the wall. He used the spell sift in conjunction with blind sense to look around. After talking to the elementals and reaching a diplomatic accord, he used his telepathy to talk to the party. As they were not listening to him, he burrowed back out and ended his wildshape to be Rilkus again. Now he is asking the party which way they were going into the tomb so that he can know where to make a door for them.
Hope that clears things up.
The walls of the chamber beyond the wall are smooth, as if fashioned from some kind of immense heat or impossibly large polishing mechanism. They appear to twist inwards, in a spiral that proceeds somewhat upwards, as well as inwards, into the depths of the mysterious sepulcher. The hall way is lit by a faint effervescent hue, as if the walls were made of a quartz-like rock, and the surface face towards the red sun.
There are no visible guardians or other features.
Rokan continues glancing at the stone wall that Rilkus has passed through, obviously pining for the groups transition to relative safety. As casual exchange continues with the bard, he interjects, a little abruptly.
Rilkus, are you certain it is safe in there? If so, perhaps we could continue analyzing the map where it’s relatively safer...
Rilkus nodded. ”My Power to do this is limited.” The dwarf turned around.
ᛠᚱᚦ᛭ᛗᛟᚦᛖᚱ᛭ᛋᛏᛟᚾᛖ᛭ᛒᚱᛟᚦᛖᚱ᛭ᛁ᛫ᛒᛖᛋᛖᛖᚷ᛫ᛃᛟᚢ᛭ᛈᚨᚱᛏ᛫ᚠᛟᚱ᛫ᛗᛖ᛫ᛋᛟ᛫ᚦᚨᛏ᛫ᛁ᛫ᛗᛁᚷᚺᛏ᛫ᚨᚡᛖᛜᛖ᛫ᛃᛟᚢ᛭
”Earth! Mother! Stone! Brother! I beseech you! Part for me so that I might avenge you! ”
The earth reshaped itself into a door that stood open for the party.
”Enter, friends. When ye have all passed I will close it behind us. Even the keenest hounds will lose our scent when the trail ends abruptly at a stone wall.”
"Well done... ᛟᚦᛖᚱ᛫ᚠᛟᚱ."
Jimbli gives Rilkus a fraternal pat on the shoulder, then looks to Rokan "I'll let you know if it appears unsafe.", and he heads through the opening.
Cae shakes his head at the clearly delirious Raxus as he approaches one of the bodies. Tapping the end of his staff against it, a small fire begins to burn.
Ri'Kli'Klek follows warily. "Many are the guardians and trapmakers that came within these tombs," he says. "None that I saw left. I know not where they did their work nor which remain. Walk with caution."
"Stranger. That sounds to my ears equally as an invitation, a request, and a veiled threat. Are your people all of such a kind as yourself, clothing fangs with velvet words?"
Hamza chuckles "I can't speak for all of my people, but my family are merchants and traders of the highest caliber. Such a profession tends to hone one's tongue." He extends a hand "My name is Hamza Mīnakshi by the way. Let us dispense with the 'stranger' moniker."
Rokan hesitantly follows Jimbli through the opening. It has to be safer than out there. The bodies aren't going to burn instantly.
Rokan hesitantly follows Jimbli through the opening. It has to be safer than out there. The bodies aren't going to burn instantly.
[dice=Perception]1d20+12
The aperture riven in the rock by Rilkus opens onto a strange corridor, pulsing with a faint pinkish hue. Indeed, the effect is as if the harsh red light of Athas' sun were filtered through a pane of immense quartz. But this cannot be, for the tomb lies deeply enmeshed within the solid rock of the Mountain of Altars. To the left, and to the right, the tunnel extends away in an organic coil.
There is a faint in rush of air along the corridor, as if of a great breath...
"Well done... ᛟᚦᛖᚱ᛫ᚠᛟᚱ."
Jimbli gives Rilkus a fraternal pat on the shoulder, then looks to Rokan "I'll let you know if it appears unsafe.", and he heads through the opening.** spoiler omitted **[dice=perception to scope out new area for threats]1d20+14
The aperture riven in the rock by Rilkus opens onto a strange corridor, pulsing with a faint pinkish hue. Indeed, the effect is as if the harsh red light of Athas' sun were filtered through a pane of immense quartz. But this cannot be, for the tomb lies deeply enmeshed within the solid rock of the Mountain of Altars. To the left, and to the right, the tunnel extends away in an organic coil.
Nothing seems amiss.
"Stranger. That sounds to my ears equally as an invitation, a request, and a veiled threat. Are your people all of such a kind as yourself, clothing fangs with velvet words?"Hamza chuckles "I can't speak for all of my people, but my family are merchants and traders of the highest caliber. Such a profession tends to hone one's tongue." He extends a hand "My name is Hamza Mīnakshi by the way. Let us dispense with the 'stranger' moniker."
The reptilian eyes Hamza warily,
"And know, Hamza, that I am Troodon, once of the Venomdrinkers, now of the Vermillion Dome."
Ri'Kli'Klek moves with a smooth, gliding gait, which any familiar with Thri'Kreen would identify as being unusual for his species. His wings remain closed on his back, hidden within their beetle-like carapace.
He says nothing, his warning already delivered, instead watching for the traps and guardians he knows must be present.
Rokan steps into the new area, taking in the pinkish hue. He pauses for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the pulsing of the light.
Perhaps safer, but this is already a strange place...
He holds up his left arm, the hairs on it raised slightly.
Can you feel it? The air rushes back and forth, as though we are amidst a great inhaling and exhaling. Did we unknowingly enter the lung of a great, stone beast?
He looks to the stone-passing dwarf for any additional context.
”I would assume not. Scout ahead before I close the way behind us.”
Rokan nods and heads cautiously down the left-hand path As he goes he continuously looks back ensuring that he doesn't leave line-of-sight of Rilkus.
Amunet-Ra doesn't hesitate as she follows into the new stone tunnel, looking at the remaining people to follow.
Let's get out of here...
This is probably the stale air of aeons from this tomb you feel there. And whatever unnatural things stir in the dark there.
Rokan nods and heads cautiously down the left-hand path As he goes he continuously looks back ensuring that he doesn't leave line-of-sight of Rilkus.
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, check for traps]1d20+12
The cavern tunnel is marked by glazed floor tiles, strewn in a seemingly random pattern over the rocky expanse. The tunnel winds left and right.
The ascetic discerns that at least three of the glazed tiles on the floor are trigger mechanisms for a a dangerous pit trap
Amunet-Ra doesn't hesitate as she follows into the new stone tunnel, looking at the remaining people to follow.
Let's get out of here...
This is probably the stale air of aeons from this tomb you feel there. And whatever unnatural things stir in the dark there.
The cavern tunnel is marked by glazed floor tiles, strewn in a seemingly random pattern over the rocky expanse. The tunnel winds left and right.
The ascetic discerns that at least one of the glazed tiles on the floor are trigger mechanisms for a a dangerous pit trap
Amunet-Ra doesn't hesitate as she follows into the new stone tunnel, looking at the remaining people to follow.
Let's get out of here...
This is probably the stale air of aeons from this tomb you feel there. And whatever unnatural things stir in the dark there.
"I suppose, sister runner, that I shall follow in your wake!"
Rokan stops and looks back at the group. These trigger pit traps. He points down to an example of the mechanism for his companions to focus on and see what to look out for. So whichever way we go, watch your step.
The narrow aperture carved by the arcane powers of the dwarf druid opens onto a wide subterranean space.
Its walls emanate a mysterious inner light, the hue of which is similar to that of a pink tinted quartz illuminated by the harsh light of Athas' red sun. The glow pulses faintly, and the immense tunnel winds into darkness on both the left and the right side of the narrow opening carved by Rilkus.
Though the shape of the underground passage is essentially circular, as high as it is wide and with sloping walls, this basically regular profile is interrupted or complicated with considerable tooth-like adumbrations of stalagmites and stalactites covering its every surface.
The irregular, gently-sloped floor of the passage is irregularly decorated with brightly-glazed tiles. These ornamentations are composed of a mosaic of small stones whose palette alternates between the deep blue aqua marine of the long forgotten seas, the deep, viscous red of fresh blood, the blinding yellow of a striking rattlesnake's hide, and the lush green of the primordial reaches of cannibal-ruled heights of the Forest Ridge.
This curious assemblage of tiles appears to be composed in the same curious artistic style as the large reliefs which covered the central sacrificial pits in the central corridor of the tomb complex. Their leering faces and odd ornamentation only add to the inherent uneasiness of this strange underworld locale.
From the left, a faint breeze seems to roar out, as well as recede at regular intervals, as if born from some kind of tide... or breath.
Jimbli's feet leave the ground as he moves into the room. He walks a couple feet in the air heading a little to the left toward the breathing breeze. He looks into the distance trying to discern its source.
"Rokan.. you noticed it first. Has it changed since we've entered?"