Ah. You see? Better to keep them guessing. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer. And since we both know what happened to your friends.... he let's the thought form itself from there
This raises Amunet-Ras eyebrows and ears.
You were ambushed by someone leading greater numbers than your tribe? As in your whole tribe was ambushed? Or a party of your tribe was ambushed by this giantess which had then greater numbers as your party?
[dice=kn:local about Isatai'i]1d20 + 16
Isatai'i? You are elven like me. Interesting. What leads your paths far away from your territory?
The Blood Stealers elf tribe of the Ceramic Desert, the brutal waste that lies of the western side of the Kalidnay ruins, are among the most feared natives of the troubled region, even though they are among its most recent additions.
Indeed, Blood Stealers, known as the Isatai'i in their own tongue, were recently led from the Hinterlands of the Tablelands, far beyond the sheltering enclosure of the Ringing Mountains.
Their leader in this exodus was a prophetess named Sakakawea Kanten. The seer received powerful visions of a great destiny that awaited the tribe in the ruins of a gilded city that lay beyond the horizon.
Though this mythical leader perished in the journey from the wastelands, Sakakawea Kanten's sons and daughters continue to guide her people.
Above and beyond all, the Blood Stealers are greatly feared for their puukuwasápe cavalry, a force composed of highly skilled elven arcane archers mounted on bizarre mounts from the wastes -- a fearsome combination of a massive horses' forequarters married to the head, claws, and bellowing chest of a ravenous dire grizzly bear. These mounted archers are known as the Baaweka'aipunni or Blood Destroyers. Their most important task is to wipe out the lineage of enemies, as well as destroy the records and history of their foes.
The Serpent Singers and Blood Stealers have not enjoyed favorable relations since the latter's entrance into the region, and have engaged in a number of skirmishes within the ruins. For the most part, the Blood Stealers remain in their territory on the western side of the forgotten city in the Ceramic Desert, and the Serpent Singers cling to their ruins in the Iridescent Desert and the Rainbow Rise, both of which lie to the east of Elder Kalidnay.
Suddenly realization shows itself on Amunet-Ras face, she instinctly grows more distant and takes a defensive stance, as if ready for the newcomer to ambush them.
Tell me, how many of your tribe are around here and have left their territory to the west, following those foolish vision of Sakakawea Kanten? You should know, there's no great destiniy awaiting you here, or at least not the one you lot seem to imagine. Rather the final undoing of our world stands before should the forces at work not be stopped! The only greatness you can find here is in letting go of your plans and unite your forces with ours!
To the others:
Their tribe came here only recently, lead by their leader Sakakawea Kanten, who dreamed of a great destiny awaiting their tribe in the ruins of a gilded city lying beyond the horizon. Seemingly they think it's here and mistake the end of the world for a great destiny. They ambushed us several times already. Sakakawea is dead, but her offspring continue this foolishness. They think violence and destruction is the key to everything, destryoing records and histories where they can.
Clearly Amunet-Ra is most disgusted by the idea of destrying historic records, it goes directly against her credo.
Ehawee sniffs, before glaring at Amunet, her tone one of patience, similar to one uses with a child
"And what have those plans in the past lead to?! How many before you have tried to stop final moments only to fail? You cling to a past that has failed! What honor is in that? You look around this places for an answer to a question long answered. Though I warn you against the giantess. She is here for far worse reasons. We atleast have a vision leading us here. She is here for power and power alone."
Despite the vocal disagreement between the two elves, Ehawee wasn't making much of a violent move towards Amunet. One would get the feeling that she must not find it a smart idea to fight over simple ideas at this time, for nothing was as pressing as stopping the giantess for now
She can almost hear him sigh
So primitive. Barely an introduction and a fight almost happens. You should perhaps indulge her. Bring our power to bare. Show her that she should be bowing to us.
Amunet-Ra relaxes a bit...
I can see your point about this giantess, although i have not met her. There are many factions drawn to this place in vie for it's power at the moment, most of them competing for it, some of them cooperating, some others manipulating. I reckon most of this is controlled by even higher forces though. Is this Elisena from this world or did she come from another as well? Perhaps she belongs to those masters of the ochre dome?
Still hidden amongst the shadows, Hamza question Ehawee "And where might this giantess and her tribe be now? How many are with her? Do you know what she seeks, exactly? Power comes in many different forms, it would help if you could maybe narrow it down."
Ri'Kli'Klek considers the newest newcomer warily.
"What wouldst thou know of the past? Knowest thou upon what stones you tread, what slumbers here? Hast thou and thy people knowledge of how close our world came to its end?"
Rokan listens to the fairly direct conversations and questions directed at the newfound elf and something else occurs to him.
Additionally, did you or your people come across one or more small baths of red motes in these chambers?
Blinking at all the questions being thrown towards her, she raps the bottom of the shaft of Umbris on the ground, a bit of impatience showing on her face. It seemed she wasnt used to be questioned on what she did, and was a bit unsure how to answer.
" She has ill intent, battling our tribe for resources rightly ours. We have claimed this halls, and she treads them. She is an issue that needs removing. It was a good many. As for red baths... I can't say I really saw. Perhaps some, but they do not seem like good drinking water, so I would say pass on them."
Her annoyance seems to ingrained, her brows furrowed as if she expects them to take her word and leave the issue.
I am a being of great power, do not vent your frustration on me like some mortal child. I am meant to shed blood. Show these fools your power and they are bound to respect you. Bound to acknowledge your superiority
Amunet-Ra's eyes become slits as Ehawee casually mentions her tribe had claimed these halls and the resources would be theirs rightly...
That's a most interesting statement there. Your rightful resources...and you claimed these halls? You are well aware, that these is Serpentsinger land, aren't you? Besides the fact that these cursed halls are off limits for a reason.
She sighs.
Now we can come together in battling that giantess and other alien forces who will do no good on Athas, but it seems we still have a topic there. We can solve that later though.
This one is trouble, she wishes to hoard what is yours. Do not trust her. Keep an eye on her constantly
"The only resource in these halls is the death of Athas," Ri'Kli'Klek snaps. "It belongs to none, lest the barely-averted doom come once again."
Jimbli, who'd been floating seated in a meditative pose, opens his eyes and stands. "We should get moving. We can discuss this if and when it ever matters. Let us continue what we are here to do. If necessary... woe to those who'd stand in our way... how's that?"
Rokan nods at the fellow psion.
Yes, we never benefit from staying in one place for too long here. We can continue getting to know Ehawee as we proceed.
He looks over at her.
You are joining us, yes?
"Yes, we should proceed. But do not risk the Red God's power again--we were fortunate once, but there is no guarantee of safety in such things."
Sighing to herself and to Umbris Behave! How else will they lead us to a better position in the world? We must work together somewhat with them. However, they did make sense about moving on and continuing to try and get to where ever the many groups seemed to be going.
" I shall go with you as far as is a good idea."
The entry portal to the next chamber of the sprawling tomb complex presents an exceptionally complex arrangement.
Its right and left sides are bounded by elaborate columns. These columns are each composed of lotus stems which are drawn together into a bundle decorated with bands. Their respective capitals swell out and then narrow again like a flower in bud. The base of each column, which tapers to take the shape of a half-sphere like the stem of the lotus, has a continuously recurring decoration of stipules, small leaflike appendage to a leaf, typically borne in pairs at the base of the leaf stalk.
Surmounting these elaborate columns is a highly decorated architrave, the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns, and above this feature is a further architectural embellishment consisting of an elaborate frieze that ornaments the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally above the columns, resting on their highly stylized capitals. Both the architrave and frieze depict elaborately-clothed kreen bearing statues into a squat mastaba.
Between the columns is a depiction of two large characters. On the right stands a large kreen with a halo of fire surrounding its head. The left side of the instillation is dominated by a strange entity that appears to be a combination of a massive, eight-legged reptile and a serpent-headed woman with a pendulous bosom. Between these to images, in the center of the door, is a depiction of a many-legged arthropod of some variety, embossed on a decorative cartouche that arises precipitously from the surrounding stonework.
[dice=Int check]1d20+3
Amunet-Ra let's her eyes swoop over the impressive chamber as her inquisitive mind works on her memory.
Ri'Kli'Klek can you tell us something about this here? Or anybody else? How about you Ehawee, have you been here before?
She looks at Rokan for a moment.
Where's that Hamza again?
Sticking to the shadows, Hamza says from right next to Amunet-Ra "I am right here, I just prefer to remain unseen, as I do not trust those who dwell in this temple to not attempt to ambush us. Especially in these large chambers."
Trying to hide the surprise, she answers;
And how do you know they rely on the same senses as we do?
"I don't, but striding around in plain sight just makes it that much easier for them to get the drop on us."
Rokan responds to Amunet.
I'm not tracking him that closely. I agree it's advantageous if at least one of us stays out of view. That doesn't mean I'd normally trust Hamza outright, but given our situation in this place, our choices are limited. Better to have him more on our side than against us outright. Just as Hamza describes, we're thrust into a game of incremental tradeoffs.
He also takes a study at the elaborate columns.
Ehawee searches her memory, but this place would seem to be unfamiliar to her. However, Umbris might give her a nudge, and while wary of her new companions, she would share what information Umbris remembered, or thought was important
Rokan responds to Amunet.
I'm not tracking him that closely. I agree it's advantageous if at least one of us stays out of view. That doesn't mean I'd normally trust Hamza outright, but given our situation in this place, our choices are limited. Better to have him more on our side than against us outright. Just as Hamza describes, we're thrust into a game of incremental tradeoffs.
He also takes a study at the elaborate columns.
[dice=knowledge (planes)]1d20+13
[dice=knowledge (psionics)]1d20+13
[dice=knowledge (geography)]1d20+13
[dice=knowledge (history)]1d20+13
Nope.
They are depictions of lotus plants that stand beside the precious lakes in the region, including that in the midst of the ancient city. It was once known as the Lake of Serenity, and is now called the Lake of Doom.
They reflect an earlier period of the area's life when the lotus reeds still grew in fetid abundance on the shores of the Lake of Serenity.
[dice=Int check]1d20+3
The kreen recalls the dedication of this series of chapels by the Fireeater cultists. During the ceremony, the blood of over a hundred elves was spilled, and prayers were offered to each of the images on the door. The kreen on the right represented the Red God Zak'Chul, or Dargulin. On his left was represented the object of his numinous desire Ymeri, the Elemental Princess of Fire. Between them is the enigmatic entity known as Xhog'Thar the Firebringer, or the Harbinger of the Great Flame. This mysterious entity, it was rumored, would manifest in the world when the Red God succeeded in wooing Ymeri, and they consummated their awful lust.
[dice=kn:history]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:local]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:religion]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:planes]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:nature]1d20 + 16[dice=Perception]1d20 + 23
Amunet-Ra let's her eyes swoop over the impressive chamber as her inquisitive mind works on her memory.
Ri'Kli'Klek can you tell us something about this here? Or anybody else? How about you Ehawee, have you been here before?
She looks at Rokan for a moment.
Where's that Hamza again?
The mural appears to depict a more lush locality than now exists in the vicinity of the ruins. Ancient traditions of the Serpent Singer tribe support this interpretation.
See above.
The columns on the sides of the door are reminiscent of a local variety of lotus.
See above
The door appears to contain some kind of mechanism, perhaps a key hole or other aperture. There is some kind of writing in extreme miniature above the small recess which occupies the space above the arthropod in the cartouche.
Ri'Kli'Klek gazes on their surroundings for a moment.
"An ill place, of foreboding future. Let us work to see that what is depicted here shall never come, for it will occur only if the Red God rises again."
Rokan studies the columns for a time and then offers...
These are depictions of lotus plants that stand beside the precious lakes in the region, including that in the midst of the ancient city. It was once known as the Lake of Serenity, and is now called the Lake of Doom. They reflect an earlier period of the area's life when the lotus reeds still grew in fetid abundance on the shores of the Lake of Serenity. I'm guessing that the Lake of Doom is either a dry bed, a lake of molten rock, or a lake of silt like our modern seas. Now it is a black slick of unpleasant "waters."
Sticking to the shadows, Hamza says from right next to Amunet-Ra "I am right here, I just prefer to remain unseen, as I do not trust those who dwell in this temple to not attempt to ambush us. Especially in these large chambers."
The door appears to contain some kind of mechanism, perhaps a key hole or other aperture. There is some kind of writing in extreme miniature above the small recess which occupies the space above the arthropod in the cartouche.
Hamza attempts to decipher the writing on the door.
Amunet-Ra shares her knowledge about the depicted figures and places, pointing everything out.
She begins to walk through the air to the door, where the small recess which occupies the space above the arthropod in the cartouche is, taking a close look.
Ehawee watches those gathered, and while none of this was her speciality, she tries her best to help, for the sooner they cleared and got to the giantess, the faster she would claim revenge. She would even use Umbris where able