Nimaethep examined the items, smiling slightly as the trio of praying monkies amused her for some reason. "Would these be of any use to either of you?" she asked of Teo and Vash while motioning to the arms and armour.
"It has been a very long time since I needed to try an put a price on anything. These statues seem valuable, but someone with more recent knowledge of the markets will have to evaluate them."
Keeping an eye on the skies, Vash looks at the arms and armor displayed below. ”The armor would likely slow me down unless it were made of unusually light material,” he says, ”Though the polearm may be a good backup weapon if no one else needs it as a primary weapon.”
Harmini casts her spell and begins to examine the items that give off the tell-tale aura of magical enhancement.
Finally she sits back , having had to recast her spell a number of time. Satisfied, she describes her findings:
- +1 Halberd
- +1 Half Plate
- Shield Cloak
- oil of bless weapon
- potion of eagles splendor
- potion of heroism
- scroll of fly
- wand of hold portal
3 vials of Soul Stimulant
Nimaethep looked through the items. "The soul stimulant could come in handy given what we might encounter in the necropolis. I will take one of those. Can you use the scroll Harmini?"
Nimaethep tried on the cloak and played with it for a few moments "This is really interesting, but I was never trained in the use of a shield."
Examining the rest of the items she settled on the wand "If nobody else is interested in the wand, I could find a use for it. For practice if nothing else."
”The Oil of Bless Weapon will be useful if we encounter a foe resistant to our weapon attacks,” replies Vash.
Nimaethep examined the crystal from the compass. "Lets hope that this is a simple thing to fix. We still have more to go before we can get them working properly. Its still a shame that these were allowed to fall into disrepair."
Gingerly taking the delicate item she carefully made her way back up to the top of the building where the rest of the compass stood. "Unless there are any other precautions that we should take?" she looked at the rest of the group waiting to see if there were any other thoughts on the matter before attempting to insert the crystal back into its housing.
Watching the others gather up the treasure and Nimaethep deal with the compass crystal, Vash says, "None that I know of, Nimaethep, but I am not the expert in such things," as his eyes continue to scan the skies for any petulant dragons.
After gathering up the dragon's hoard, Nimaethep carefully carries the crystal up to the waiting Elegiac Compass.
Holding the crystal in front of the complex machine, she turns it this way and that. At times, she's sure that if she slid in in just so...bu then realizes a delicate piece of the machine was in the way. Turning the crystal, she see she could fit the crystal into the hole, but that nothing would be holding it in place.
Frustrated, she realizes she just doesn't have the right skills or knowledge; perhaps someone more acquainted with jewelry, clocks or the workings of the arcane might have a better chance.
Harmini steps up and examines the apparatus. She recognizes some of the runes carved into the pieces of the machine, and gently reorients some of the gleaming, metallic bits and pieces. Slowly, she 'builds' a metal cradle the exact size of the crystal found in the dragon's hoard.
Satisfied, she nods to her friend , who gently places the crystal into the cradle. The metal pieces sway slightly with the weight of the crystal, then stills. A light begins to flicker within the crystal, and the mechanism's inner workings begin to move, drawing the crystal deeper into the machine. Then it is lifted up so that it emerges from the top of the compass.
For a moment, the machine is still, then the crystal, held up by six metallic claws, begins to spin. Soon it is spinning so fast that it's outline begins to blur, and the light within begins to strengthen. Within a few moments, the crystal was glowing brightly.
Suddenly it flares brightly and still spinning, emits a bright , yellow beam of light out across the Necropolis!
”Well-done,” exclaims Vash, examining the map. With help, he scores a line where the beam runs. ”Looks like we need to either find another crystal or take this one with us and power another compass not in line with the current beam.” he reasons.
Nimaethep watched the contraption activate with interest, she had never seen anything like it before. "What an interesting device. I don't know what I was expecting, but this dazzling display is unexpected. I am concerned that this beam of light will act as a beacon and draw attention to this place. We should head to the next location. Will the system work if we take this crystal? I don't know how any of this functions."
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Harmini watched with great interest as the beam shot out across the city.
After a time studying its path, she smiled and replied to her companions with a gesture toward the machine.
"At last! A compass that works!"
"Well, this is likely what it's supposed to do anyway. I think we'd best take the crystal with us. This device isn't going anywhere any time soon at least."
She then reasons with Vash.
"It's possible that this singular beam may be enough to detect the strongest necromantic energies along its path. Maybe even enough to point us toward the source of the uprising. I would suggest we follow any clues along the beam of light, as it were."
Harmini addresses Nima.
"You could be right, my dear. It might be best not to linger here. If any of you require rest before we press on, perhaps a safer locale is in order?"
Harmini walks around the machine, trying to determine a way to deactivate it. Finally, she comes to the conclusion that while the crystal was activated, there was no way to shut it down. While the necromantic emanation it was detecting continued, the crystal would continue to spin ,lighting the way.
It was then when she noticed the lengthening shadows; evening was approaching fast. Finding shelter would be advisable.
"It is getting late, shall we retire to Wati or find some place to take refuge within the Necropolis?" Nimaethep asked. Under normal circumstances, a night in the Necropolis wouldn't have concerned her so much, but these were anything but normal circumstances.
“Makes sense to me, Nimaethep, though this compass light is a beacon for wandering undead,” responds Vash, trying to think if he saw any likely places to bed down nearby during their recent travels.
Vash eyes the setting sun and looks back the way they came. He estimates that if they headed directly for the tunnels they used to enter the Necropolis, they would still be travelling in darkness for almost an hour.
The only truly secure place they encountered was the Windward Wend Oils Company building where they defeated the ghoulish alchemist.
"We would be out well past dark if we try to make it all the way back. Our most secure location to spend the night nearby is the alchemist's hidden room," says Vash, ready to get out of the open and rest for a bit himself.
Gathering up the dragon's treasure as best they can, the party ventures out into the fading light to seek sanctuary in the Oil merchants building.
Following Vash's lead, the ranger takes a different path back, avoiding both the tomb plaza with the Anubis statues and the strange vine covered creature they noticed before.
Though the shadows of the sun grow deeper, the party finds that he shadows are lightened by the beam of light from the elegiac compass. Finally, as the sun's light begins to fade , the group enters the old market and approaches the door to the Oil merchants.
Nimaethep nodded "That's a good idea, if those alchemists were able to keep their operation running with all the undead around we should be able to overnight there in relative safety."
As they approached the oil shop, out of an abundance of caution Nimaethep crept forward just to make sure that the shop was still empty. There was no telling whether the former occupants had come back or new once had taken up residence.
As Nimaethep and the others entered the plaza and moved forward cautiously, a number of ghouls appeared some distance away. The immediately began to run toward the group, but once they entered the light cast by the compass' beam of light, they shied away , shrieking as they ran away into the deepening twilight.
A quick check of the shop showed it to be deserted, it's previous owners having departed for greener pastures.
"That is interesting, that the undead recoil from the beam of light. With enough of the compasses active, perhaps we can fence them in?" Nimaethep wondered aloud as the shrieking ghouls retreated.
...
At the shop, satisfied that there were no hidden threats Nimaethep motioned the group inside.
She helped make camp in the ruins of the building and performed a short ceremony to Anubis, entreating the distant god to keep the camp safe from the undead that prowled the Necropolis. Later she dutifully took her watch, keeping an eye on the darkness and shadows while her companions slept.
Teos seemed to be in almost a trance for the last few hours...hardly reacting to anything. The dragon certainly had a huge effect on him. Seeing the undead run from their newly acquired artifact seems to shake off some of the cobwebs.
"Oh...we're back here! How...no, never mind. I am glad we are all safe and can rest without fear of the undead attacking! Sorry I was of little help, but that great beast...sorry..."
A shiver runs through the warrior before he shakes it off and begins to help set up camp.
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Harmini settled in for the night with her companions in the abandoned shop. She attempts to comfort Teos.
"Do not let it trouble you, my dear. Even those that live a hundred lifetimes still hold fear of the unknown... What matters is that you are brave enough to face these dangers and learn from them."
She rests a hand on his shoulder and smiles.
Vash sits quietly once everyone is safely packed in for the night. "I'll take first watch," he says simply.
The night passes without incident, the light from the compass seeping in here and there where the old mortar had crumbled and fallen away.
The crows from roosters within and without the city can faintly be heard as the first light of dawn begins to push away the darkness.
Checking your map of the necropolis, you can see that the compass light passes through a large plaza, then two large buildings to the south-west.
”Morning,” grunts the half-orc as he shakes the sleep from his body. ”Let’s plan our next step—should we follow along the beam and check the buildings in its path, or should we try that last marked compass location and try to generate a beam intersection to guide us?” he asks, starting to move about and prepare a field breakfast.
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Having only slept a few hours during Vash's watch, Harmini nonetheless appears refreshed and ready for the day. Nearly every mundane upkeep task handled by her familiar's magical means with a softly glowing blue gem at its center. After quietly communing with Alabaster for several hours, she rejoins the group for some conversation.
"Good morning, my dears. I am pleased that we remained undisturbed throughout the night. Yet I'm afraid time is not our ally."
While not partaking of the meal herself, Harmini instructs Alabaster to add some magically robust flavoring to Vash's preparations.
"I suggest that we explore the last possible compass location on our map in an effort to eliminate any unnecessary guesswork in choosing our final destination."
"Thank you" Nimaethep replied as Harmini soothed her aches and bruises from the day's events.
The next morning Nimaethep arose with the dawning sun. While Harmini communed with her magical companion and Vash prepared breakfast the catfolk performed her morning rituals and prayers to Anubis.
Joining the others over the morning meal she nodded at Harmini's suggestion. "I agree, I think we should continue to follow the map. I am concerned about the condition of the last compass though, considering the condition that all the others have been in. Is there anything we can do with just one compass if it turns out to be the only one we have? I suppose we could just follow the path of the beam checking every house along the way."
Without any objection, Nimaethep shouldered her pack and led the group towards the location of the last compass, carefully scouting ahead wary of any more ambushes by undead.
Vash follows along carefully, his bow out and ready should there be need.
Teos readies his sword and shield and follows along with the others. He keeps his eyes open and moves through the ruins carefully.
Perception:
Stealth:
Our intrepid band sets out once more into the dusty streets of the Necropolis. Though the morning is bright from the sun , the light of the elegiac compass is still visible in the air above the City of the Dead.
Making their way carefully, the way is unmarred by the appearance of any undead. Entering a broad avenue, one one side of which was a large ornate building that has the look of library. In front of the large metal door, upon the short flight of stairs leading up to it, stand 4 figures, jackal-headed, bearing glinting sickles. They are human-sized and appear to be fashioned of clay or stone...you're not sure, closer investigation would be necessary.
Looking warily at the statues/golems, Vash asks, ”We have no need to enter the library, do we? Shall we just continue moving and keep our distance?”
Since she had left her days of tomb robbing behind her, Nimaethep's curiosity for such things had lain dormant. However recent event had rekindled her desire to see what kinds of ancient secrets might be tucked away in the lost places of the world.
That desire tugged at the edge of her mind upon seeing the library. In the years since those days though she had learned to temper her impulses and consider her actions with a little more care.
"I think I have to agree with Vash" she said with some hesitation as she struggled between trying to come up with some kind of plausible justification for investigating the library and accepting that finding the last compass was the priority. "Finding and quenching the source of the necromantic energies as quickly as possible before anyone else is harmed by the undead would seem to be our first goal, unless we think there would be anything inside here that might help us?"
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Harmini stops with the group briefly.
Perhaps once the undead have been cleansed, I can give this location more formal attention.
"While I do desire to return here and investigate what knowledge lay inside, I have to agree with Nima concerning more pressing matters...
She waits beside Teos before pressing on.
Teos nods in agreement with Nima and Harmini.
"Let's just get this done with. We can always come back once this evil has been laid to rest!"
While he sounds tough and ready, a slight quaver can still be heard in his voice...the whole dragon episode still has him slightly worried!
A little disappointed that everyone agreed and nobody had made a compelling argument for searching the library, Nimaethep was at least satisfied that there was a desire to perhaps come back later once the immediate threat had been dealt with.
With the group in agreement, she said a quick prayer to Anubis and his guardians at the door to the library before continuing towards the last location marked on the map.
The decision to avoid the library tomb for now, the group makes their way down the avenue, passing the front of the tomb.
As they do so, the four figures, with a sound of stone on stone, turn to face the group, adopting defensive postures. They then remain still as the group does not advance closer to the tomb.
The sound repeats as the group leaves the avenue, a glance back showing the figure had returned to their original places on the stairs.
The journey to the last known location of one of the compasses continues, with the occasional hill of sand or fallen wall to negotiate.
Finally, after checking the map, the group is confident that they stand before the building indicated. It does not look promising. What had once been an academy or school, appears to have lost most of its roof at some point.
Nimaethep gazed over the ruins with a frown. "This isn't looking good."
Carefully picking her way across the rubble strewn street she kept an eye out for hazards as she approached the front door of the building. Once she was satisfied that there were no threats she motioned everyone else forward.
+1 vs traps
Vash follows carefully, trying to be stealthy himself, and joins Nimaethep at the front door of the building.
.
Finding nothing threatening about the door, Nimaethep gently presses the door open, revealing a cool room with narrow windows. Sand has spilled into the room, mixing with a chaotic mess of old parchment. A grand desk occupies the opposite side of the room, flanked by two stone stair cases that curve upwards.
Vash moves into the room smoothly behind Nimaethep. He walks cautiously over towards the desk, eyeing the sheaves of paper as he goes, glancing to see if any writing on them seems legible. Before he looks over behind the desk, he stops and listens…
Nimaethep cautiously enters behind Vash, alert for any dangers whether they be from creatures or the unsound structure.
Once satisfied that there isn't any immediate threat, she quietly moves up the stairs to take a peek at the upper level of the building.
+1 vs traps
Naught but the soft susurrus of the wind and sand greets the party as they enter the room.
As you listen, you can hear the tell-tale creak of metal bending and moving coming from the floor above...
You find not evidence of traps. As you venture up the stairs, you hear the tell-tale creak of metal bending and moving coming from the floor above...
Casting about with your enhanced perception, you do not detect any auras in the immediate area.