Wait! I think a made some sense of those kreen rhymes!
The first verse clearly refers to the nature of this particular tomb, which has special properties that differ from the other six sepulchres in the larger complex. The key to the doors of the tombs that closed behind us lie in the Tomb of Kla'Tra'I, as he was the master builder and trap-maker of the Red God Dargulin. There should be a key within the tomb that allows us to leave the complex if we can locate it before succumbing to the dangers within here...
Finally, the 'menhir' and 'lintel' are symbolic in this context. Literally, they refer, respectively, to the side and top elements of a portal -- as in the posts on the side of a door, or it's primary right and left 'frame' beams, along with the same element over the top of the construction.
However, here they have a symbolic meaning that refers to the passages going into the rest of the complex, or those higher within the Mountain of Altars, below which the Mortuaries of the Mantis Priests are located, and which towers over the temple-camp of the Serpent Singer Tribe. These passages are opened by the key in the deepest recesses of the Tomb of Kla'Tra'I.
This section refers to Ymeri, the Princess of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire. She is an ancient and powerful elemental who desires to ascend to true godhood, and enjoy the worship of all inhabitants of the plane of fire. Though revered by the fire mephits, she has always struggled to bring the efreeti and kaltori of the fabled City of Brass entirely under her tyrannical dominion.
The enigmatic passage refers to an esoteric belief of the Cult of Auroric Infernos, one of the chief religious bodies that reveres the Princess of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire. This tradition holds that her rise to true godhood will be aided by a powerful ascendant being who will transform itself into a tool of Armageddon in the quest for her elusive favor, and that this eager soul will lead the forces of Ymeri's Auroric Palace to victory over their enemies on both the Plane of Fire and that of Earth.
Its presence in the Tomb of Kla'Tra'I suggests that at least one faction of the ancient kreen were evil priests of Elemental Fire who sought the favor of Ymeri.
Amunet-Ra would translate and repeat what was told in kreen before magically.
Eager to help, Raxus followed Rokan down the hall, wondering how hard it would be to simply break these traps, and perhaps the walls. His concern about bringing the cavern down on their heads gave him pause, so for the moment he refrained from his usual straightforward method of problem solving. He was the new person in the group, so he was content to follow the lead of the others.
Floating above the second pit, Jimbli suddenly realized he had relied on Rokan's word regarding the nature of these traps. "What made me trust him so quickly...." He shrugs it off for the time being as he hears the monk's request, and begins blinking and airwalking around the monstrous vehicle toward him.
The right side of the tunnel descends slightly, and curves again to the left. Beyond the area of the passage which is visible to Jimbli's erstwhile comrades (i.e., the area of the tunnel shown on the battlemap), a thick haze of some kind of noxious smoke fills hall, forming a misty barrier that crosses then entire opening, in front of which is positioned the strange organic device which has just emerged from the shadows and begun to flood the cavern floor with some species of noxious liquid, a large pool of which odious substance has just drained into the pits beneath the colored tiles. There are no more colored tiles outside of the aforementioned area visible to those of the halflings's company who have emerged from the aperture carved by the dwarf named Rilkus.
Eager to help, Raxus followed Rokan down the hall, wondering how hard it would be to simply break these traps, and perhaps the walls. His concern about bringing the cavern down on their heads gave him pause, so for the moment he refrained from his usual straightforward method of problem solving. He was the new person in the group, so he was content to follow the lead of the others.
The right side of the tunnel descends slightly, and curves again to the left. Beyond the area of the passage which is visible to the half-giant's erstwhile comrades (i.e., the area of the tunnel shown on the battlemap), a thick haze of some kind of noxious smoke fills hall, forming a misty barrier that crosses then entire opening, in front of which is positioned the strange organic device which has just emerged from the shadows and begun to flood the cavern floor with some species of noxious liquid, a large pool of which odious substance has just drained into the pits beneath the colored tiles. There are no more colored tiles outside of the aforementioned area visible to those of Raxus' company who have emerged from the aperture carved by the dwarf named Rilkus.
Loud shouts are herd from the other side of the billowing wall of acrid yellow smoke, the sounds of which are incredibly unnerving to the assembled heroes.
Several different kinds of sounds are heard among the voices. The first is a steady high sound, produced as if it were being sung instead of spoken. Second, is a breathy voice that begins at a medium register and falls. There are also a number of curious liquid articulations.
Ri'Kli'Klek follows along with the others as they pass by the device, flying above the floor with swiftly-buzzing wings. As he does he comments to Amunet-Ra, "That is much to learn from little words. Knowest thou much of my people?"
"It is not what is seen here which concerns me, but what might be unseen," he comments, looking around carefully for hidden traps or symbols.
Ri'Kli'Klek follows along with the others as they pass by the device, flying above the floor with swiftly-buzzing wings. As he does he comments to Amunet-Ra, "That is much to learn from little words. Knowest thou much of my people?"
"It is not what is seen here which concerns me, but what might be unseen," he comments, looking around carefully for hidden traps or symbols.
[dice=Perception]1d20+12
The sides of the cavern are incised deeply on either side with the unholy symbol of Ymeri, Princess of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire -- a quartet of kreen pincers with cruelly-serrated exoskeleton arrayed in an X pattern. This image brings to mind the circumstances of Dargulin's fall to Ri'Kli'Klek's memory. Among Dargulin's followers were a sect of evil clerics of elemental fire who venerated the aforementioned Princess of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire. These kreen learned the worship of Ymeri from evil halfling clerics of the Blue Age, part of a coalition of wicked priests and naturebenders that brought an end to the world ocean and the blue sun. However, they gradually overtook their teachers and the savage veneration of Ymeri continued for a centuries, gradually corrupting the already twisted ranks of the Red God's followers. Dargulin was eventually overthrown when it became revealed that he intended to purge the Crimson Savannah where the kreen dwelt by means of a massive sacrificial inferno, and that he cared no more for the lives of his 'children' than for those of the millions of the 'lesser races' which the Dark Lord's armies had expunged from the face of Athas. Rather than submit to being offered in this fashion, the kreen rebelled against Dargulin.
Raxus hefted a rock that must have weighed as much as five men. "Do you want that thing dead?" he asked his new companions.
Hamza studies the strange markings, trying to determine anything useful from them.
In the course of his explorations, the demon suddenly becomes aware of a familiar, and, at this time, unwelcome presence.
The rasping voice of Pef-aa-khons-Phrahiunamif-Pa-du-pthah, the Sightblinder, the Flicker in the Eye of Ymeri, suddenly breaks out in the low but discernible pronunciations of the infernal language. This draconic entity is the eidolon of the intellect devourer sorcerer Itzpapalotlilamatecuhtli-Aghathlelb, one of the Master of the Aerie's most powerful servants, and most faithful converts to the Cult of the Auroric Inferno. The sect introduced to the devourers by Fenriz-Bilé is a cult devoted to Ymeri, Princess of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire.
The eidolon rasps,
"I was dispatched by the Master to assess your progress, and am uncertain what to report, demon. I stand at a loss as to your present disposition. Having located the travelers of which the Master spoke, why have you not sought to return them to his presence?"
Calling upon his innate powers of darkness, Hamza steps into the nearby shadows, and reappears on the other side of the acid spewing contraption, next to Rokan.
Calling upon his innate powers of darkness, Hamza steps into the nearby shadows, and reappears on the other side of the acid spewing contraption, next to Rokan.
The passage to the right is blocked by a large cloud of undulating yellow smog. This barrier spews acrid fumes at regular intervals in the manner of some kind of immense, smoldering beast. It extends from the floor of the cavern to its ceiling, and from the left to the right wall.
The sides of the hall are deeply-incised with decorations of some sort.
"I am assisting them on a quest they began before I found them. My hope is that once they have completed it, they'll be receptive to my taking them before your master."
** spoiler omitted **
The eidolon Pef-aa-khons-Phrahiunamif-Pa-du-pthah replies with an acidic tone that does not even attempt to conceal its contempt for this attempt at an explanation.
"I see, so you pursue the designs of these... mortals" it issues the descriptor with obvious disgust, "instead of those issued to you by the Master? If one were not more believing of your wisdom, one might suppose you disobeyed and tarried in the Master's will."
"Furthest thing from my mind. They believe their quest to be of the utmost importance, and would not take kindly to a complete stranger showing up and demanding they abandon it. However, they will likely be more willing to listen to a trust ally, who has helped them accomplish their goals. " Hamza says patiently, a bit surprised he needs to explain such a basic tactic to the dragon.
** spoiler omitted **
The displeasure in Pef-aa-khons-Phrahiunamif-Pa-du-pthah's voice is evident, and, though the eidolon is still invisible, it is easy to imagine its scaled profile grimacing in rejection of this explanation,
"But these are mortals[i/]! They should do the will of the Master, just as do the khat-ab-ren-ka-ba-shut-akh-sahu and the devourers!"
The voice pauses momentarily, and it is easy to imagine it glancing around the current environs. After this brief pause, the eidolon begins again in a hushed tone,
"Hmmm... the Master said this was a place of power of the the Resplendent Ymeri, and I can [i]feel the Mother's presence. These mortals walk on sacred ground, as do you, demon."
[dice=Perception]1d20+12
The stranger named 'Hamza' appears to be talking to himself in some unknown language.
Ri'Kli'Klek follows along with the others as they pass by the device, flying above the floor with swiftly-buzzing wings. As he does he comments to Amunet-Ra, "That is much to learn from little words. Knowest thou much of my people?"
Mh not really that much i guess. I just concluded it from the words and what i knew. Your people might be good hunters, but we elves are clever. And it seems very healthy to know more about your people right now...
Still sitting in her lotus position mid-air, Amunet-Ra watches the others go, but then suddenly rushes up and follows, stepping down onto the ground where the acid remains end.
Hey wait, where you going? Are you sure this is the right direction? What's that noise?
She looks at the half-giant.
Who do you want to kill with that rock? This abomination?
She points at the weird machine.
Might be best we leave it alone for now, else who knows what an attack on that will set in motion.
The giant looked a bit disappointed, but didn't do whatever he had planned with the rock. Instead he just waited to follow Cae's lead on what to do next.
Hamza sighs loudly in exacerbation "You don't really understand mortals, do you? They won't care who my orders come from nor have any desire to obey them or the master, for as long as they are still on their quest. Trust me, this is the best method for getting them to do as we want, even if it's more complex and complicated."
[dice=Per]1d20+14
Hamza, the cloaked stranger, appears to be talking to himself or someone not visible to the naked eye, and is conversing in an unknown language.
[dice=Perception]1d20+19
Still sitting in her lotus position mid-air, Amunet-Ra watches the others go, but then suddenly rushes up and follows, stepping down onto the ground where the acid remains end.
Hey wait, where you going? Are you sure this is the right direction? What's that noise?
She looks at the half-giant.
Who do you want to kill with that rock? This abomination?
She points at the weird machine.
Might be best we leave it alone for now, else who knows what an attack on that will set in motion.
Hamza, the cloaked stranger, appears to be talking to himself or someone not visible to the naked eye, and is conversing in an unknown language.
** spoiler omitted **
The pitiful creature continues to whine in a shrill tone, as the voices from the other side of the billowing gaseous barrier begin to assume greater clarity, gradually forming comprehensible expressions in the Nibenese tongue,
"Ho there, who is that? We are emissaries of the Shadow King of Nibenay, and have arrived in Kalidnay under the orders of the Lord of the Naggaramakam. Who are you, and how have you come to this place?"
Amunet-Ra approaches Hamza, who seems to be talking to himself in an unknown tongue.
Hamza, are you allright? Who are you talking to? This sounds very ...
Hearing this specific language for the first time, she struggles for the right words to describe it.
interesting. Yes interesting.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+15
Amunet-Ra approaches Hamza, who seems to be talking to himself in an unknown tongue.
Hamza, are you allright? Who are you talking to? This sounds very ...
Hearing this specific language for the first time, she struggles for the right words to describe it.
interesting. Yes interesting.
The mysterious, cowled stranger's motives and designs are a complete mystery to the elf.
Amunet-Ras usualy large almond shaped eyes become narrow.
In a strange and cursed tomb, where countless of my people once have been slaughtered by these kreen praying to alien gods, which is now beset by a new mysterious alien invasion, which seemingly seek the destruction of our world, we meet complete strangers who talk in unheard abhorrant tongues. I wonder what his motives are....
[dice=Perception]1d20+12
The mysterious cloak-shrouded stranger who has identified himself as 'Hamza' appears to be conversing in an unknown language with an unseen being.
The giant looked a bit disappointed, but didn't do whatever he had planned with the rock. Instead he just waited to follow Cae's lead on what to do next.
Not wanting Raxus' fun to be completely foiled, Cae quietly suggests to the giant, "What about rolling that huge rock in front of the infernal machine to stop it from advancing?"
Hamza, tell us. Is it friendly? Or do we have another fight on our hands?
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The giant looked a bit disappointed, but didn't do whatever he had planned with the rock. Instead he just waited to follow Cae's lead on what to do next.Not wanting Raxus' fun to be completely foiled, Cae quietly suggests to the giant, "What about rolling that huge rock in front of the infernal machine to stop it from advancing?"
Not wanting Raxus' fun to be completely foiled, Cae quietly suggests to the giant:
"Its advance you might block
By using your large rock.
If you roll it in front
Then no need to confront."
Jimbli turns toward Hamza and raises an eyebrow. "Hardly the strangest behavior I've seen today, however...."
He is then distracted by the big guy holding the boulder, and Cae.
He nods in response to Cae's suggestion. "Not a bad idea, I would guess."
Looking back to the wall of greenish mist.
"Assuming this is not much more than a few dozen feet across, I could get us beyond it. One at a time, but it wouldn't take too long."
[dice=perception to hear conversation]1d20+18
Jimbli turns toward Hamza and raises an eyebrow. "Hardly the strangest behavior I've seen today, however...."
He is then distracted by the big guy holding the boulder, and Cae.
He nods in response to Cae's suggestion. "Not a bad idea, I would guess."Looking back to the wall of greenish mist.
"Assuming this is not much more than a few dozen feet across, I could get us beyond it. One at a time, but it wouldn't take too long."[dice=perception to see beyond the mist... and maybe judge its depth]1d20+14
Despite intense effort, the halfling is unable to discern any meaningful details through the dense haze of acrid yellow smog.
Hamza turns to Rokan, "Hopefully not hostile. Doing my best to keep it friendly."
To the whole group "We have visitors up head. They claim they are emissaries of the Shadow King of Nibenay, here under the orders of the Lord of the Naggaramakam."
Hamza turns to Rokan, "Hopefully not hostile. Doing my best to keep it friendly."
To the whole group "We have visitors up head. They claim they are emissaries of the Shadow King of Nibenay, here under the orders of the Lord of the Naggaramakam."
As early as the semi-mythological Chronicles of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors there is mention of the Sushen, a Tungusic people from the northern Ivory Triangle region of the northeast Tablelands, who paid bows and arrows as tribute to the ancient Emperor Shun and later to the Zhou dynasty of Nibenay. These Sushen used flint-headed wooden arrows, farmed, hunted and fished, and lived in caves and trees. The cognates Sushen or Jichen (稷真) again appear in the Shan Hai Jing and Book of Wei during the dynastic era referring to the Tungusic Mohe tribes of the far northeast. The Mohe practiced pig farming extensively and were mainly sedentary, and also used both pig and dog skins for coats. They were predominantly farmers and grew soybeans, wheat, millet and rice, in addition to hunting.
A century after the chaos associated with the Cleansing Wars started in the Sushen lands, Nurhaci, a chieftain of the Jiang Zhou or 'Left Guard' of the Peking Emperor, began a campaign against the city-state of Nibenay in revenge for their manslaughter of his grandfather and father. He reunified the Sushen tribes, established a military system called the "Eight Banners", which organized Jurchen soldiers into groups of "Bannermen", and ordered his scholar Erdeni and minister Gagai to create a new Sushen script.
It is the Manchu Dynasty founded by this Nurhaci that the Shadow King Nibenay eventually displaced in his conquest of the venerable Green Age metropolis which bears his name.
"Ahead? They are on the other side of this wall of mists?"
Amunet-Ra tries to remember what she knows about the Shadow King of Nibenay and the lord of Naggaramakam.
Turning to the half-giant, Cae and Jimli:
That is actually a very good idea, placing the boulder in front of it so it can't advance any further and do whatever.
Hamza, did they say what they want? I find it rather strange to meet another official emissary of some city state power or greater house down here in this cursed and assumedly closed tomb. This is beginning to seem like there is a festival planned and everyone but us got invitations...
Or have the city dwellers begun to send delegations to negotiate special deals with the new power in their eternal struggle for dominance? Hoping to gain advantages over everyone else or a new ally to overpower the rest? Not realizing they play with our world once again?
Not wanting Raxus' fun to be completely foiled, Cae quietly suggests to the giant, "What about rolling that huge rock in front of the infernal machine to stop it from advancing?"
Raxus nodded and started looking around for anything large enough to work as a blockade.
Not wanting Raxus' fun to be completely foiled, Cae quietly suggests to the giant, "What about rolling that huge rock in front of the infernal machine to stop it from advancing?"
Raxus nodded and started looking around for anything large enough to work as a blockade.
As the half-giant prepares to obstruct the path of the mysterious, partially-organic engine, the bizarre vehicle beings to rear slightly, as if it were some kind of massive insect preforming a mating or combat display, its eerie carapace rising precipitously towards the ceiling as the thing's immense height continuously reveals itself.
[dice=kn:local]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:nobility]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:history]1d20 + 16Amunet-Ra tries to remember what she knows about the Shadow King of Nibenay and the lord of Naggaramakam.
Turning to the half-giant, Cae and Jimli:
That is actually a very good idea, placing the boulder in front of it so it can't advance any further and do whatever.Hamza, did they say what they want? I find it rather strange to meet another official emissary of some city state power or greater house down here in this cursed and assumedly closed tomb. This is beginning to seem like there is a festival planned and everyone but us got invitations...
Or have the city dwellers begun to send delegations to negotiate special deals with the new power in their eternal struggle for dominance? Hoping to gain advantages over everyone else or a new ally to overpower the rest? Not realizing they play with our world once again?
As early as the semi-mythological Chronicles of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors there is mention of the Sushen, a Tungusic people from the northern Ivory Triangle region of the northeast Tablelands, who paid bows and arrows as tribute to the ancient Emperor Shun and later to the Zhou dynasty of Nibenay.
These Sushen used flint-headed wooden arrows, farmed, hunted and fished, and lived in caves and trees. The cognates Sushen or Jichen (稷真) again appear in the Shan Hai Jing and Book of Wei during the Dynastic Era referring to the Tungusic Mohe tribes of the far northeast. The Mohe practiced pig farming extensively and were mainly sedentary, and also used both pig and dog skins for coats. They were predominantly farmers and grew soybeans, wheat, millet and rice, in addition to hunting.
A century after the chaos associated with the Cleansing Wars started in the Sushen lands, Nurhaci, a chieftain of the Jiang Zhou or 'Left Guard' of the Peking Emperor, began a campaign against the city-state of Nibenay in revenge for their manslaughter of his grandfather and father. He reunified the Sushen tribes, established a military system called the "Eight Banners", which organized Jurchen soldiers into groups of "Bannermen", and ordered his scholar Erdeni and minister Gagai to create a new Sushen script.
It is the Manchu Dynasty founded by this Nurhaci that the Shadow King Nibenay eventually displaced in his conquest of the venerable Green Age metropolis which bears his name. The eponymous sorcerer-king, then known as Taiping, was adopted into the family of the Manchu Emperor Aisin Gioro. He later supported the late emperor's younger son Hong Xiuquan against the appointed heir Prince Qing. Once the elder prince was defeated in a bloody civil war, the younger son assumed the throne, and quickly became the puppet of his Grand Chamberlain. When Hong Xiuquan died, without an heir, the Chamberlain assumed a permanent regency which has continued to this day, transforming the vast bevies of the Imperial Concubines into the ranks of his Shadow Templars.
"Ahead? They are on the other side of this wall of mists?"
Hamza, tell us. Is it friendly? Or do we have another fight on our hands?
Awesome how you make use of history! Funnily enough i studied chinese, hence i'm normaly very inclinced to "eastern" stuff.
However in this case i'm not sure what to make of the information, is this just background info or something in there for the gameplay at hand?
Amunet-Ra takes a look wether she can see something through the fog or if there are any gaps.
And if it is poisonous: