MUMMY'S MASK ADVENTURE PATH - GM Spazmodeus

Game Master Spazmodeus

Chui whispers back to the others ...

S***head is hovering out here somewhere on this side of the house. I can smell his ugly div ass.

Well we still can't see him and I believe that he is intelligent enough to not attack us. We could go inside the main building, it seems like Harmini doesn't like the look of that over-sized outhouse and I'd like a route of escape that doesn't involve going near that snake.

For clarity I am suggesting that we go through the door to the east and avoid the one on the left, at least for now. Also because it might come up, I have a question about my breath weapon interacting with enclosed spaces that I will talk with you at Untapped.

Well we still can't see him and I believe that he is intelligent enough to not attack us. We could go inside the main building, it seems like Harmini doesn't like the look of that over-sized outhouse and I'd like a route of escape that doesn't involve going near that snake.

For clarity I am suggesting that we go through the door to the east and avoid the one on the left, at least for now. Also because it might come up, I have a question about my breath weapon interacting with enclosed spaces that I will talk with you at Untapped.

I'm not sure which door you're referring to. I see the following options:

1) Closed door directly to the north of Alex, behind which Chui heard scratching and smelt decay.

2) To the west of that is an opening which leads to a small space with a door to the west.

3) The set of double doors to the west which I assume leads into the big house, but which takes us closest to the snake.

I don't know why I said east, I meant west. I'll move myself where I think we should go.

Lets try these doors next!

I check the door and listen to it.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Harmini shakes her head as she exits the building to the courtyard.

We really need someone to take charge here. Maybe not the crazy one?
Yes, NOT the crazy one.

Alex! Stop! Let Chui lead us through... That's what he's here for after all. I trust him...mostly... to guide us unharmed. He's got experience with this sort of thing.

She looks at the nearby door to the north and addresses Chui.

Where to next? Sounds like the chittering of many insects behind this door. I heard it from inside the other room so be careful... Though I can't say for sure without visual inspection. Could be something else maybe?

I moved Alex back due to seeing something before approaching the door. No need for additional roll if you approach the door anyways.

New Personality&Alignment Upload Complete!

Relax, she's had a rough day.

I take a deep breath and calmly state my opinion.

I believe that before we open the door that might have a swarm behind it, we should secure an escape route that doesn't involve us running in front of what is clearly a nervous, venomous viper. True, it might be nothing. I might be overracting and there are just a bunch of bugs in there hanging out together, but if we open that door and out jumps a bunch of fiendish hookflies or infernal wasps pop out, I wouldn't advise being anywhere near them. If this is a gamble you wish to take, then by all means open the door. I will be right behind you. You have nothing to fear.

Open the door, eliminate the bug, kill the swarm, loot the place, we all make it out. Good day.

I'll shortly be posting a couple of thoughts in the discussion section.

Note to self - pack dart gun and extra thorazine next time.

Chui gestures for Alex to come over and join the other three so quiet conversation is easier, and he whispers ...

OK Campers, this is a dog ass suck tactical situation. We have an unresolved invisible flying threat along with multiple potential flanking enemies if we make a beeline for the big house.

However, let's not forget the motto of my old school - "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

Therefore, I suggest we do head straight for the big house, through the door that Alex reconnoitered. Reason one, big money is probably in the big house. Reason two, we're more likely to force the div into action where we can kill it, assuming we can find something it needs to protect in there. Our goal is to force the div into combat inside the house where it's harder for it to fly out of our reach.

Sound good? Break on 3!

You had me at "Big Money"

I throw my hand in the middle of the group and hold it there expectingly.

1....

I can't believe I'm doing this... you need their help, Harmini so do as the young ones do? I think I'll need a good long bath after this is over.

Harmini reluctantly raises her hand with as little enthusiasm as possible, barely grazing the others and whispers softly.

2...

As soon as Harmini and Bam sign off on this "plan," I'll be good to go.

Not exzactly sure whats going on i mimic alex and harmini. Putting my branch-like hand in the pile
tree...

Chui stares at the three hands with mild amazement.

They like think I'm speaking literally! They don't realize that it's all a catnip-fueled stream of consciousness rap that is only occasionally linked to reality.

He smiles and taps the pile with his paw ...

Go!

Chui moves over to the double doors with a flask of alchemical fire in one hand.

I've heard there might be a swarm on the other side.

Chui then carefully checks for traps ...

Take 20 Perception = 26 and scent

and will open the door in front of him if not trapped and unlocked, after which he will carefully slip in.

Take 10 Stealth = 20

As Chui looks over the door I adjust Bambara's hat slightly.

With you here, I know everything will be OK.

Chui, the doors with the swarm possibly behind them were to the north (I will mark with a DOT). So, I can either assume Chui mixed it up in his drug induced state or say you didn't draw the alchemist's fire. It is your choice.

Alex nods slightly and indicates that the doors seem to be fine, but Chui double checks to be certain. Not sensing anything at the door he opens it up to reveal what seems to be a back hallway. There doorways to the north and south and the hall narrows but continues to the west. Sunlight can be seen shining from the south and west.

Chui shakes his head a couple of times.

Catnip, it's a hell of a drug!

Chui doesn't see any obvious ways upstairs does he?

Nope. It seems the only stairs up are on the other side of the house.

Well, at least we'll be out of this heat. With all of that black fur, its a wonder how do you deal with it.

And he even keeps up a uniform shine. Very nice.

I know that Chui will take care of this, but can I see or hear anything out of the ordinary from where I am standing? Also I will mention the bug that I saw when we get closer to that room, I haven't forgotten it.

When he's outside in the sun, Chui generally wears a long white cotton robe/tunic and a white cotton headdress with a black cord (see the Emirati example here).

Chui carefully peaks around the corner to see if anything exciting is in the space to the north.

Take 20 Perception = 26 plus scent

Take 10 Stealth = 20

Seeing that Chui is looking down into the north room, I speak up quietly.

Behind the door on the right, a man-sized spider-thing burrowed into the ground. I believe it waits in ambush. Be wary if you go in there.

Chui whispers back ...

So, we could soak the ground with oil and set it on fire? That would be pretty funny!

But that will have to wait until we've mutilated the damn div, a lot.

Knowing that Imanish might be listening I choose to phrase my agreement diplomatically while I move out of the glare of the sun.

Yes, we can't have Imanish attack us again. If we are trying to secure this house, where should we start?

I just want to check to see if we're waiting on me. I'd like to check out what appears to be a kitchen to the north of us, but I wasn't sure of the results of my Stealth and Perception.

Yeah. Just checkin in. Harmini doesn't have anything to add at the moment. Carry on.

Nope, waiting on me. Busy weekend. Sorry.

Chui looks to the north into what appears to be a kitchen.

Two stone tables sit against the western wall of this room, while a third occupies the southeastern corner. A small, square wooden butcher’s block stands in the northeast corner, now almost collapsing under its own weight. A stone oven sits in the middle of the north wall. A humanoid skeleton lies beneath the northwestern table, surrounded by smashed crockery. A door to the east exits the room.

Chui moves stealthily and quickly toward the skeleton.

The skeleton lies motionless, it's dried and starting to crumble. A pitted and rusted dagger now lies loose in it's ribs.

I step further into the house and look around the kitchen. As I look upon the skeletal remains and the rusted dagger I let out a slight sigh.

Sometimes I wish I had the gift for reading minds and communing with spirits. I bet this person would have an interesting story to tell story to tell, even if we already know the ending.

Perhaps Apsu will grant me these gifts in the future.

I'm getting the idea that the spell Speak With Dead will have some interesting utility or at least add some story details that we might miss.

I'm getting the idea that the spell Speak With Dead will have some interesting utility or at least add some story details that we might miss.

Probably not for a while, but given the setting it might not be a bad idea to have access.

Harmini moves into the kitchen with the others to help look around.

I think the dead are quite boring actually...

I sometimes wonder if anyone now remembers me... Alas.

She sighs audibly.

No more interesting than the living at least. Best to just take what was left behind and move on. Do keep up Alabaster.

The pile of rocks named Alabaster shambles along behind Harmini indifferently.

Yep, crack philosophy and dungeon raiding team we have here.

North flank clear, let's check the other direction. Keep an eye on the atrium while I poke about to the south.

Chui moves carefully to the south

Take 20 Perception = 26 + scent

Take 10 Stealth = 20

Moved avatar on roll20

Not sure who to follow once in the kitchen i see a neat trinket so i grab the rusty knife.
may help bambara later
Upon chuis direction i guard the ateium

As Bambara holds the old knife in his hand I start to play with my hair and muse out loud.

You know Bam, if you stabbed something with that knife, then that man's life and death mattered to you. He has effected us, even in this small way. His actions still ripple through time and these ripples are what keep us connected through the ages as we move ever foward. Like a tree that never stops growing.

Very quietly, under his breath ...

If you stab someone with that knife, they bleed out, you laugh, the end.

Chui heads to the south and finds what seems to be a shrine. Hieroglyphs and images of fantastic beings cover the walls of this small room. A small stone shrine, dusty and thoroughly defaced, stands against the eastern wall.

He passes through into a small privy and beyond can see a shallow pool.

A large tiled pool sits in the center of this chamber, surrounded by sloping tiled floors. A few steps descend into the basin, which has accumulated a deep layer of sand on its bottom. Faded murals on the walls depict scenes of life along a river, with recurring themes of running water and aquatic life running through the artwork. In the northeast corner, a tarnished bronze spigot juts from the wall just above head level. Archways lead north and west, and a stone door stands
in the eastern wall.

Holy excrement!

OK, weird religious s**t ahead. I'm going to sweep the space for traps, then can Alex and Harmini come take a look, detect magic, think deep thoughts, etc, while Bam watches our rear. Sound good?

Chui moves forward to the head of the pool, checking carefully for traps and other threats.

Take 20 Perception = 26 + scent

Moved avatar on roll20

Chui finds no traps or anything dangerous.

I want to roll Knowledge Religion to see if any of this has any religious significance and also an Linguistics check to see if I can understand anything about those hieroglyphs. As usual I am detecting magic when I move. Also, we are walking in sight on the still not technically dead sand lady, how does she look?

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Linguistics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Hmm, nice fountain. Or fondue station depending on how decedent these people were.

Oh that reminds me, I have to stop at that fondue place later.

Harmini will enter the small room just to the south and begin reading the hieroglyphs.

Assuming they are written in Ancient Osiriani. If not, I can make a check. Also, token moved on Roll20.

Hmmm... Someone didn't like this shrine apparently.

Alex, you are way to far for a heal check to tell you anything. You would need to actually examine the sandman. She is still there though and shows no signs of having moved.

Alex and Harmini both examine the small chapel in the house.

Before we leave I would like to mend these shrines, but for now we can move on.

As I look around the room, disappointed in the destruction of these shrines, I notice Harmini's eyes moving along the hieroglyphs.

Oh, you can read these? What do they say?

Harmini stops reading and looks over to Alex.

Seems to be prayers to the gods. Abadar, Pharasma and Sarenrae specifically. Nothing noteworthy here unfortunately. Let's move on shall we?

If I get a chance to med these shrines, perhaps you could tell me what those prayers are. Ancient words can go a long way towards cleansing old ruins and it seems to be such a shame to leave it like this. After we are through securing everything of course.

OK, boring dead religion stuff. I can ignore that. Onward to violence and cash money.

Though I am intrigued by the idea of fondue baptisms, presumably followed by much grooming and licking.

Chui carefully glides over to the western archway and peers through.

Take 10 Stealth = 20

Take 20 Perception = 26 + scent

Moved avatar on roll20

Quietly to himself ...

Heh, heh, looks like "someone" smashed up a bunch of skeletons here.

Quietly to back to the others ...

I can see the stairs that we went up earlier. Let's head back up and finish the second floor of the soon to be dead div's soon to be tomb.

I move along with the group clutching my newly found rusty knife.
How can bambara stop the scary screams at door
harmany would creepy sandlady know to fix scary screams?
talking about haunt

Our primary offensive asset is a large plant with a rusty butter knife. I feel bad for our enemies.

Chui continues his careful progress to the west until he arrives at the bottom of the stairs going up.

Take 10 Stealth = 20

Take 20 Perception = 26 + scent

Moved avatar on roll20

What?! Really? Ok, enough is enough! We're not going through this again...

She smiles widely at the ghoran.

That's a very interesting question, Mr. Fierce. Let's go ask her...

Harmini hastily marches over to where the body of the unconscious sandman lies in a heap. She drops down to her knees and repeatedly drives the butt of her crossbow into the remains of Heshsharu. Her hair tumbles loose and falls to the dirt during the course of her wild attacks and vulgar shouting.

HESHSHARU! WHY DON’T YOU TELL US HOW TO STOP THE SCREAMING!?

This activity is intended to be treated as a coup de grace with an improvised weapon (we’ll say a crossbow butt counts as a club in this case). Token moved on Roll20.

After a few brief seconds of rage, Harmini quiets down, stands up and shrugs.

Hmph. She didn't know...

That felt good. Let's hope that's the end of any more nonsensical postulations from the walking plant.