Ri'Kli'Klek carefully looks for signs of traps as he advances into the room.
Rokan circles the octogonal raised area, then expanding into the wider area in the chamber, looking for traps ahead of the party inspecting more interesting features of the room.
Ri'Kli'Klek carefully looks for signs of traps as he advances into the room.
[dice=Perception]1d20+12
The kreen detects no traps.
[dice=Perception, traps]1d20+12
[dice=Perception, traps (eternal hope, re-roll a nat1)]1d20+12Rokan circles the octogonal raised area, then expanding into the wider area in the chamber, looking for traps ahead of the party inspecting more interesting features of the room.
There is Crushing Stone trap at the elaborate entrance to the right of the party. Rokan detects no traps in the entrance to the left, nor in that facing his own person and that of his companions.
The floor of the octagonal chamber that lies between the eight pillars is inscribed with rows of hieroglyphics.
The eight great columns in the center of this octagonal 'nave' surpass 20 meters (e.g., 70 ft.) in height and are capped by huge open papyrus blossom capitals. The columns in the hall clearly represent papyrus stalks, and the eight great ones have open capitals imitating the feathery blossoms of flowering papyrus. The diameters of the giant bell-shaped capitals are 5.4 meters (18 ft), wide enough to support some one hundred men. Natural papyrus stalks are not cylindrical but have three sides with ridges along each edge. The columns are round, but a slight ridge runs up each column like a vertical seam in imitation of the plant.
Every inch of these columns has been inscribed by the servants of Dargulin. Royal cartouches have been inserted nearly everywhere possible from the base of the shafts to tiny ones on the outer rims of the papyrus capitals. Two huge vertical cartouches below the scenes on each column face the processional axis through which Rokan's party entered the great octagonal chamber.
The columns appear to be decorated with images of kreen making offerings of diamonds and living elf sacrifices to a strange entity which resembles a female torso and head with the body of a monstrous reptilian quadruped.
Rokan notices a hint at the ground to the right and then looks up.
This way, to the right. There is a trap that drops a large stone on the victim. Perhaps one of us may disable it, otherwise just avoid that area.
He then points to the floor of the raised area. Here are numerous rows of hieroglyphics, covering this entire area between the pillars. The same is true of the pillars themselves.
He then shows them the depictions of Kreen sacrifices. Attempting his best Kreen approximation of his name, he asks: Ri'Kli'Klek, are you familiar with this vile goddess they make sacrifices to?
Rokan notices a hint at the ground to the right and then looks up.
This way, to the right. There is a trap that drops a large stone on the victim. Perhaps one of us may disable it, otherwise just avoid that area.
He then points to the floor of the raised area. Here are numerous rows of hieroglyphics, covering this entire area between the pillars. The same is true of the pillars themselves.
He then shows them the depictions of Kreen sacrifices. Attempting his best Kreen approximation of his name, he asks: Ri'Kli'Klek, are you familiar with this vile goddess they make sacrifices to?
At Rokans words, Amunet-Ra looks for the trap herself.
Mh those hieroglyphs again...Let me take a look at them if i can.
Assured that he will not be killed just by walking up and looking at things, Ri'Kli'Klek comes forward to read the symbols.
Hamza nods in understanding "A noble goal to be sure, just know that not all who disguise themselves do so for nefarious reasons. Take myself for example. I wear this guise as a well off merchant to make it easier for me to conduct legitimate business. One's race of birth does not necessarily determine the contents of one's character." The assassin advises sagely.
As they enter the massive chamber, Hamza peers around the room, before fading into shadows. He didn't trust the openness.
Assured that he will not be killed just by walking up and looking at things, Ri'Kli'Klek comes forward to read the symbols.
The hieroglyphics are similar to the ones that the kreen encountered earlier in the corridor in that they are pronounced in an ominous susurrating cadence by some arcane mechanism wedded to the structure of the tomb.
Each portion has a small message contained in a cartouche. The one nearest Ri'Kli'Klek states as follows;
"Here sleep the threefold whelping of the Queen of the Fires. They drink thirstily from the teat of the Mother of Blood. May those who seek other than their will come under the Shadow that Spills Blood."
Hamza nods in understanding "A noble goal to be sure, just know that not all who disguise themselves do so for nefarious reasons. Take myself for example. I wear this guise as a well off merchant to make it easier for me to conduct legitimate business. One's race of birth does not necessarily determine the contents of one's character." The assassin advises sagely.
As they enter the massive chamber, Hamza peers around the room, before fading into shadows. He didn't trust the openness.
Hamza can discern nothing beyond what Rokan already observed above.
The demon vanishes from sight.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 21
At Rokans words, Amunet-Ra looks for the trap herself.Mh those hieroglyphs again...Let me take a look at them if i can.
[dice=Linguistics]1d20 + 12
The elf detects no traps.
The elf cannot read the hieroglyphics.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 15
Yes go ahead Rokan, but let me look for further traps!
Hamza nods in understanding "A noble goal to be sure, just know that not all who disguise themselves do so for nefarious reasons. Take myself for example. I wear this guise as a well off merchant to make it easier for me to conduct legitimate business. One's race of birth does not necessarily determine the contents of one's character." The assassin advises sagely.
As they enter the massive chamber, Hamza peers around the room, before fading into shadows. He didn't trust the openness.
Pef-aa-khons-Phrahiunamif-Pa-du-pthah, draconic eidolon of the Intellect-Devoure sorcerer Itzpapalotlilamatecuhtli-Aghathlelb, again speaks to the demon,
"These images are of my Mistress, we tread upon her sacred precincts. The kreen must have also spilled blood in honor of the Queen of the Fires."
Hamza...? Where did Hamza go?
Rokan looks about the raised area for him, worried about whether the group should be trusting this shadowy figure.
Sneaking up behind Rokan, Hamza says quietly. "I am still here, I just do not trust such a wide open area. It is too good a set up for an ambush."
After his invisible companion informs him what the images are, Hamza studies them himself, seeing if he can learn more about them.
Ri'Kli'Klek translates the carvings nearest to him. ""Here sleep the threefold whelping of the Queen of the Fires. They drink thirstily from the teat of the Mother of Blood. May those who seek other than their will come under the Shadow that Spills Blood."
Curious, i can't see the trap. Rokan, could you point it out? Neither can i make sense of these hieroglyphs.
Amunet-Ra doesn't looked pleased at all and gives the wide open room an uneasy look.
As she sees Hamza just vanish in the shadows, unable to detect him any further, it doesn't help her mood either.
Words, Hamza, words. You fade in the shadows and we don't know your true face yet. You don't need to tell an elf about birthrace and character though! Tell that to the humans and city-dwellers!
Leonidas waits, outwardly patient.
Rokan frowns at Hamza's explanation, though it is technically better than not knowing where he is.
He leads Amunet over to the right side of the area to point out the trap, first at it's target on the ground and then a straight line up to a heavy stone slab suspended near the dome of the ceiling.
If able to see it that way, Amunet-Ra would attempt to disbale it!
Before spending time to survey the chamber, Jimbli moves around the entrance (particularly around Hamza) to determine if the invisible figure is still with them.
Then, seeing Amunet fiddling with the trap, he blinks beside her.
"Anything I can do to assist?"
Leonidas waits, outwardly patient.
Raxus waited also. This endeavor was clearly important but he couldn't help but feel relatively useless at the moment. It was a feeling he had become used to. He'd spent long years as a prop used to project a certain presence in his former mistress' court.
This was nothing like that court, yet somehow the feeling was the same.
"How big a stone?" he asked, looking up to where Rokan had pointed.
"How big a stone?" he asked, looking up to where Rokan had pointed.
Rokan smiles at the giant.
At this distance it's hard to draw a reasonable comparison, but I'm guessing it's big enough to hurt even you quite a lot.
Sneaking up behind Rokan, Hamza says quietly. "I am still here, I just do not trust such a wide open area. It is too good a set up for an ambush."
After his invisible companion informs him what the images are, Hamza studies them himself, seeing if he can learn more about them.
The demon is unable to read any of the writing which decorates the floor of the great chamber.
The iconography of the chamber is that of Ymeri.
Ymeri, Queen of the Inferno, dwells within the Auroric Palace on the Elemental Plane of Fire, and is one of the four powerful beings collectively known as the elemental lords. The Auroric Palace stands on the edge of the Elemental Plane of Fire, where it meets the Plane of Earth. It is a palace of frozen flames, built upon an immense slab of crystal, metal, and stone. Its base is boiling away, producing a shining rain of magma and sheets of brightly coloured flame; this display can be seen for many hundred of miles. She is served there by a cult of fiery creatures—efreet, fire mephits, fire elementals, and others. Her followers seek to raise her to divine status, and ultimately gain control over the entire Plane of Fire.
She believes that elemental earth will eventually succumb to elemental fire, and appears to be seeking to promote war between the efreet and the shaitans of the Plane of Earth. This is possibly connected to her rivalry with the mysterious being of elemental earth known as Ayrzul, the Fossilised King.
Ymeri has long sought the worship of the salamanders but, instead, they mostly revere the demon lord Flauros.
Efreeti Prince Jhavhul has long been an admirer of Ymeri, but his advances have been rebuffed.
She is also the patron of the tiefling that dispatched Hamza to these haunted caverns.
If able to see it that way, Amunet-Ra would attempt to disbale it!
The elf's attention to the stone-dropping device, aided by the talents of the halfling Jimbli, does not appear to trigger the trap's mechanism, suggesting that it has been disabled.
Amunet-Ra looks at Jimbli, amazed and delighted about his help, clearly impressed.
It seems someone already tampered with this device and disabled the trap, else it would have fallen on our heads right now probably. So i guess at least. What do you think Jimbli? Should be safe to move on, right?
Amunet-Ra looks at Jimbli, amazed and delighted about his help, clearly impressed.
It seems someone already tampered with this device and disabled the trap, else it would have fallen on our heads right now probably. So i guess at least. What do you think Jimbli? Should be safe to move on, right?
Jimbli eyes the ceiling as he pockets his tools. "Safer. Safe enough to move on anyway."
After deciphering the religious connotations of the hieroglyphs, Hamza informs the group. "We tread on the scared ground of Ymeri, Queen of the Inferno. We should proceed with both caution and respect, so we do not offend those who might still worship the Lady of Flame."
Rokan speaks up again after a time.
And if our recent experiences are any indication, we should move on quickly. What is next on the map, invisible one?
Ri'Kli'Klek translates the carvings nearest to him. ""Here sleep the threefold whelping of the Queen of the Fires. They drink thirstily from the teat of the Mother of Blood. May those who seek other than their will come under the Shadow that Spills Blood."
After deciphering the religious connotations of the hieroglyphs, Hamza informs the group. "We tread on the scared ground of Ymeri, Queen of the Inferno. We should proceed with both caution and respect, so we do not offend those who might still worship the Lady of Flame."
"Indeed, demon" the invisible eidolon voices a reply that is a curious mixture of affirmation and threat.
"It is not offence but destruction we should fear," Ri'Kli'Klek states. "Whatever is necessary to ensure the Fingers sleep forever must be done."
"It is not offence but destruction we should fear," Ri'Kli'Klek states. "Whatever is necessary to ensure the Fingers sleep forever must be done."
Skimming the rest of the hieroglyphs, the recently-reawakened kreen warrior can discern the following:
"The Gate of the East is the Gate of the House of Power. The Gate of the West is the Gate of the Shrine of House of Knowledge. The Gate of the North is the Gate of the Shrine of the Two Souls of the Living. These are the Shrines of the Power and Knowledge of the Fire of the Blood of the Queen of the Living. May Her Good Servants be blessed with the Power and Knowledge of Her Grace."
"The Good Servants of the Mistress of the Shining Fires are Blessed at the Shrines of Her Grace. May the Good Servants sleep until they are called forth to their duty. May they requite Her Good Favor with their service."
"The Chambers of the Silenced Echoes is the Gate of the Inner Halls. May the Master of Designs sleep until He is called forth to his duty. May he require Her Good Favor with his service."
"The Pools of the Shrine are the Font of Blessing. May the Good Servants sleep until they are called forth to their duty. May they requite Her Good Favor with their service."
The elaborate portal to the east frames one of the three entrances to the complex of chambers that extend from the large central space in which the party presently find themselves.
14 large steps lead up to a massive set of doors.
On each side of the door is a massive statue of a kreen warrior, their armored carapaces bristling with threatening spines. Each bears a massive, wickedly curved blade which appears to be made of black obsidian.
The pair of highly-ornamented doors are covered with hieroglyphics.
As the party approaches, the two statues appear to move.
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SCARLET SENTINEL
Among the most insidious of Kla'Tra'Yhe's guardians, the scarlet sentinels are unique golems created by the Trapmaster of Dargulin in which a powerful daemon has been trapped. The furious outsider unleashes its rage against all who disturb its sanctuary...
NE Large construct
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +0
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 9, flat-footed 27 (+18 natural, –1 size)
Wounds 20; Vigor 170; fast healing 5
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +5
Defensive Abilities jagged body; DR 10/adamantine and good; Immune construct traits, fire, magic
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee 2 slam +23 (2d10+9 plus hellfire touch); 2 claws +25 (2d12+9 plus bleed)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks berserk liberation, hellfire touch, slow, bleed (2d6), obsidian spray
STATISTICS
Str 28, Dex 10, Con —, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 10
Base Atk +17; CMB +27; CMD 37
SQ death throes
Feats Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Intimidate), Toughness, Weapon Focus (slam)
Skills Intimidate +29
Languages Abyssal, Infernal (can’t speak)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Berserk Liberation (Ex)
When a scarlet sentinel enters combat, there is a cumulative 2% chance each round that the animating fiend breaks free and the scarlet sentinel goes berserk. This chance resets to 0% after 1 minute of inactivity. When a scarlet sentinel goes berserk, the animating fiend explodes in a conflagration of hellfire, dealing 13d6 points of damage to all creatures within 60 feet (Reflex DC 17 half). Half of this damage is fire damage, but the other half results directly from unholy power and is not reduced by resistance to fire-based attacks. The save DC is Constitution-based. The berserk scarlet sentinel then loses the fiend-infused template permanently and thereafter attacks the nearest living creature, or smashes some object smaller than itself if no creature is within reach. Once it goes berserk, no known method can reestablish control.
Hellfire Touch (Su)
A scarlet sentinel’s body radiates the soul-scorching heat of the evil Outer Planes, dealing 2d6 points of damage with its touch. Half of this damage is fire damage, but the other half results directly from unholy power and is not reduced by resistance to fire-based attacks. Creatures attacking a scarlet sentinel with unarmed strikes or natural weapons take this same hellfire damage each time one of their attacks hits. A scarlet sentinel’s natural attacks are treated as evil for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Immunity to Magic (Ex)
A scarlet sentinel is immune to any spells or spell-like abilities that allow spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.
A transmute rock to mud spell slows a scarlet sentinel (as per the slow spell) for 2d6 rounds, with no saving throw, while transmute mud to rock restores all of its lost hit points.
A stone to flesh spell does not actually change the scarlet sentinel’s structure but negates its damage reduction and immunity to magic for 1 full round.
A banishment or dismissal spell quells the animating fiend temporarily, negating the scarlet sentinel’s hellfire touch ability for 1 round with no saving throw. The spell also increases the chance of the scarlet sentinel’s berserk liberation by 20% in subsequent rounds of combat.
A magical attack that deals fire damage sharpens the scarlet sentinel’s claws, increasing their critical threat range to 18–20 and increasing bleed damage to 3d6 for 1d4+1 rounds.
A magical attack that deals cold damage cakes ice over the scarlet sentinel’s form, suppressing the bleed damage from its claw attacks and negating its jagged body ability for 1 round.
A stone to flesh spell negates the scarlet sentinel’s damage reduction, jagged body, and immunity to magic for 1 full round.
Slow (Su)
A scarlet sentinel can use a slow effect, as per the spell, as a free action once every 2 rounds. The effect has a range of 10 feet in a burst centered on the scarlet sentinel and a duration of 7 rounds. A successful DC 17 Will save negates the effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Death Throes (Ex)
When a scarlet sentinel is reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, it explodes. All creatures within a 20-foot burst take 12d6 points of piercing and slashing damage and 2d6 points of bleed damage. A successful DC 18 Reflex save results in half damage and negates the bleed effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Jagged Body (Ex)
A creature that grapples a scarlet sentinel or that hits it with a natural attack or unarmed strike takes 2d6 points of bleed damage.
Obsidian Spray (Ex)
As a swift action every 1d4+1 rounds, a scarlet sentinel can unleash a torrent of obsidian shards, filling a 30-foot cone. Creatures caught in this attack take 8d6 points of piercing and slashing damage and 2d6 points of bleed damage. A DC 18 Reflex save reduces this damage by half and negates the bleed effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary or gang (2–4)
Treasure none