Mummy's Mask

Game Master Samy

Initiative: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Harmose hears Polux's gasp and then sees the swarm of black, furry bodies. "ශුද්ධ වූ බළලුන් ! ඔවුන් සියලු ආවේ කොහෙන්ද?"

Harmose color sprays the swarm.

DC16 Will Save plus Awesome Display

Ra shifts his shield forward, forgetting that the defense against swarms was only once a day.

Will vs Color Spray: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Stunned for Rounds: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

The cats cannot take actions for 7 rounds, but are not considered mechanically helpless so cannot be coup de graced. You may post actions for 7 rounds.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Turel moves up into the unfinished crypt and sees the un-natural feline swarm emerge from the alcove.

What unnatural force is controlling these cats? Is it just the Necropolis...or is it something else...?

Seeing no way to affect the swarm immediately he waits until Harmose stuns the felines and then uncorks a vial of alchemist fire and lobs it into the hissing mass of hairless felines.

Round 1:
Alchemist Fire, ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Round 1 damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Round 2 damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 fire

Turel will wait for the others to act in Round 1 before posting later Round actions. He only has two vials of alchemist fire he he.

Ooohhhh... Anyone has anything against Polux trying to capture one of those cats? I want one!! :D

CMB Grapple? (Samy, what say you?): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 4

"What in the world is that yowling!?!?" Kito asks as she moves up.

Round 1, double move to get in sight of the swarm

Seeing the situation, she calls out to Polux "Might want a bag to put that creature in!"

Will move up and try to hit the swarm with her dagger.

Round 2

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round 3

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round 4

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Time to see if any of that had an effect.

Turel's alchemist's fire hits the swarm. The way I read the rules, alchemist's fire has two components: single-target damage and area damage. Swarms are immune to single-target damage, but they do take the 1hp splash damage (+50% to 1.5, rounded back down to 1.0 unfortunately). Therefore, Turel's alchemist's fire causes 1hp splash damage to the swarm but nothing else.

Two of Kito's dagger strikes hit. Because the creatures in the swarm are Tiny, they take half damage from weapons, so 0.5 per hit, but I believe there's a rule somewhere that damage is always a minimum of 1, so Kito's strikes cause a total of 2hp damage to the swarm.

Polux can certainly try to grapple one of the cats, and succeeds. He is grappling one of them.

There's an image of the cats which is accurate except for the coloring.

Round 2

Not able to do anything effective in actual melee, Harmose pulls a sack out of his pack and hands it to Polux as his friend struggles with the yowling and grappled cat. "මම මගේ පුරාණ මුතුන් මිත්තන් , ඔවුන්ට නමස්කාර දන්නවා, නමුත්, මෙම කිවියන් බළලුන්, Polux වගේ බලන්න එපා !"

Round 3

Harmose acid splashes the scrawny feral things, hoping to put the poor things out of their misery. "මට සමාවෙන්න, Bast . මට සමාව දෙන්න . මම ලස්සන කිවියන් පූස්පැටියා Aleris පසුව සම්මත දෙන්නම් , නමුත් මේවා ... මම හිතන්නේ නැහැ මෙතන ඔබේ නැතිවූ දරුවන් ඕනෑම ඉතිරි නැත."

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 2:

Seeing the alchemist fire had little effect and also noting Kito's blade actually damaged it, Turel steps up to the swarms and proceeds to pummel it with his fists and feet.

FOB #1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19; damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
FOB #2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3; damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Round 3:

FOB #1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21; damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
FOB #2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16; damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
FOB #1 Crit?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5; Crit. damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Round 4:

FOB #1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16; damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
FOB #2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9; damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Init. 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Qari was disheartened to see yet another swarm. She fired off her cold Ray, hoping to do some damage to the mass of creatures.

RTA 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 4 = 17

Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Round 1

"Eeee!" Aleris shrieks as the unnatural-looking cats begin pouring out of the southwest alcove. "What in the world!?"

As Harmose's quick use of magic stuns the swarm, she draws her glaive and moves to strike.

Attack (Glaive; Reach): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Round 2

"You *want* one of these?" she gapes incredulously at Polux as she attempts to strike the swarm again. "Are you nuts??"

Attack (Glaive; Reach): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Round 3

"No! Bad kitties!"

Attack (Glaive; Reach): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Can't move myself on the map; would someone put me within two spaces of the swarm since Aleris is using a reach weapon?

Annnnd that makes enough successful damage dealt. The swarm is disrupted. Combat is over.

Nodding, Kito says "It seems your scolding them is what dispersed them, Aleris."

Good riddance! Cats are notorious for hunting birds.

Knowledge Nobility: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Danger over, Harmose takes a moment to look over the room. "This crypt was intended to be used by Pentheru’s family for generations to come. When the Plague of Madness struck Wati, however, work on the crypt was halted, and Pentheru the Younger was the only person ever interred here."

Then he looks at the yowling undead cat in Polux's bag. "Congratulations, my friend. You've caught yourself an Ubashki. As Pentheru’s tomb was being completed, his former servants likely rounded up his pet cats (and a few strays from the neighborhood) and killed them to serve their master as guardians and sentries in the afterlife." He raises an eyebrow. "I'm guessing the negative energy and wickedness now inhabiting the House of Pentheru caused the cats to stir, creating a swarm of the undead cats. Well, at least you'll have a distinctive pet! I'm sure that no one else in the neighborhood will have one. You'd better not let the Pharasmites see it though. I think that Sebti the Crocodile would have a fit, blue lips and all."

Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Aleris shivers as she watches the bag shift. "Isn't it a little cruel to keep it like this? I'm not sure where animal spirits go when their bodies die but it has to be to a better place than this sort of existence here."

Qari nodded at Aleris's words. "Don't ever let me comeback as an undead. It's cruel to be kept in that shape forever."

Then he looks at the yowling undead cat in Polux's bag. "Congratulations, my friend. You've caught yourself an Ubashki. As Pentheru’s tomb was being completed, his former servants likely rounded up his pet cats (and a few strays from the neighborhood) and killed them to serve their master as guardians and sentries in the afterlife." He raises an eyebrow. "I'm guessing the negative energy and wickedness now inhabiting the House of Pentheru caused the cats to stir, creating a swarm of the undead cats. Well, at least you'll have a distinctive pet! I'm sure that no one else in the neighborhood will have one. You'd better not let the Pharasmites see it though. I think that Sebti the Crocodile would have a fit, blue lips and all."

"An Ubashki you say?" - Polux looks at the bag where the undead creature sputters and hisses - "Amazing" - and smiles widely.

Aleris shivers as she watches the bag shift. "Isn't it a little cruel to keep it like this? I'm not sure where animal spirits go when their bodies die but it has to be to a better place than this sort of existence here."

"Do you think Aleris?" - he looks back and forth between the bag and his companion - "I always thought undead bore no traces of their former selves, even in spirit. I always thought the 'true' spirit had long departed, to be replaced by another.. Some sort of energy that would animate the now 'lifeless' bodies" - Polux seems to hesitate somewhat between his inquisitive mind, and the idea of keeping a soul tied to such an existence.

"Do you really think it wise to carry such an abomination on your person?" Turel asks quietly. For those who know him well, the anger in his voice is unmistakable.

Instantly recognizing the tone of someone trying very hard to control themselves, Aleris tenses. Her eyes flicker nervously from Turel to Polux and back again.

They're not going to fight, are they...?

She also glances at Harmose, worried that the talk of the dead and souls might prove upsetting.

"Even if the true spirit leaves the body, to animate it whether by some sort of energy or another spirit...it's a mockery of the living being they once were," she responds, uncharacteristically delicate with her words. "Just a poor imitation. It's...it's ugly. It turns something beautiful into something ugly," she responds quietly.

Ra looked incredulously at Polux as he stuffed the undead cat into his bag.
"What? Are you soft in the head boy? Those things feed on the energy of the living! Like you!"

Harmose pauses. "You might not be aware, but my ancestors did not see a soul as one single entity, but as a multi-layered creation." This is a sensitive subject for him, but one in which perhaps he was more qualified then most to understand, having had his soul ripped apart once.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"This ubashki has a khat, a physical body, though one horribly changed. I don't know if it still has its vital spark, or ka." He pauses, listening the ubaski yowl in the bag. "It still has its ba, or personality, intact, though perhaps bound and corrupted as well. His sekhem, or life force, has been replaced with negative energy." His hands clench slightly, then loosen. "Then there's the ib, the heart, the force, intention, morality and will. Some people don't believe that animals have such things. They never met my Wenet."

"Finally, there's the ren, the true name. It is the deepest anchor of the soul. If it goes, everything else does too." His wide brown eyes meet Polux's. "It is possible to be dead, and still have one's ren, to still be essentially yourself, but lost. It is also possible for undeath to break this too. The ren is the most vulnerable part of the soul... If it is destroyed, everything else comes apart as well."

"Ghosts are ka personified, all spirit. Zombies have khat but no ka or ba. This creature... it appears to be something in between, as it was created to be a companion in the afterlife, most of its soul is likely intact, just horribly corrupted." He tries to keep himself steady, and then is surprised to find a warm furry weight in his arms, and a rabbit head butting his chest. "Created so that their masters will have company in the afterlife, ubashkis are ultimately creatures of loss and loneliness... especially this one who has lost all of his fellows."

Ra looked flatly at Harmose.
"I'm sure your words will be of GREAT comfort to Polux when he wakes up one day with his new pet clawing its way down his throat to chase his heart around like an errant mouse!"
He reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a couple of coins.
"Two gold pieces say he doesn't make it a week." He said, slapping them down on a stone.

Turel keeps staring at Polux while the others comment oon the situation. The offer of a gamble does draw his attention briefly.

"Forgive me Ra-Khefer, but that is one wager I cannot accept in good conscience."

...for that undead feline will NEVER leave this crypt.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Though she longs to comfort her betrothed, there's something about the way he speaks and what he speaks of that stops her.

That's awfully specific information...I'd expect that sort of knowledge from Kito or maybe Turel. Not Harmose.

There had to be more to it but now wasn't the time to weigh him down with more questions. As she steps closer, she gives his arm a comforting squeeze. "I thought it was interesting," she says quietly. "But Ra-Khefer is right - please Polux, it needs to be destroyed! It could hurt one of us or worse if it were to get loose!"

Kito takes the time to carefully clean her knife with a rag after the fight with the undead cats. She seems slightly lost in thought as she does it.

Looking towards Polux, she gestures with her blade towards the bag and announces "I would also appreciate it if you destroyed that thing."

Then she turns her gaze to Harmose and asks "Why did that work?"

Harmose, still staring with fascination at the yowling and hissing undead cat thrashing in the bag, and wrapped up in his own thoughts about what had happened so long ago, is a bit distracted. "Why did what work?"

Gesturing towards the bag again, "Your spell, and the cats..."

Kito's brow furrows for a moment. Did I get one of my assumptions wrong? I didn't see him cast the spell, but there aren't that many different spells that cause creatures to be stunned like that. I best make myself more clear.

Taking in a breath and focusing, she explains "I didn't see exactly what happened, but I did see reflected light from the spell you used. If you used the spell I suspect, it shouldn't work on undead."

The players knows why it worked. Now the character would like to.

Harmose stops and he looks up at Kito, a series of emotions momentarily flickering in his eyes before he takes a deep breath and tries to compose himself once again.

"You're right. I used color spray. I thought at first that they were live cats, you see... But they weren't, were they?" He shudders. "You're right, Kito. Against a swarm of ubashki, the spell should not have worked. The undead... they're immune to most mind magics and illusions."

He bites his lip, hands buried deep in Wenet's fur. Wenet head butts him again.

<encouragement> <trust>

Harmose can feel her emotions pouring through their empathic link. He lifts the rabbit up, and rubs his head against hers. "You're right, little one. It's probably time I tell them, isn't it?" He stands there, suddenly looking very lost and vulnerable. "My spells... are an exception to the normal rules. I've not only walked in the lands of Anubis but before that...." He breaks off. "There's something I haven't told you yet." He meets Aleris's gaze with a stricken look on his face. "You know I died. But... for a while, I wasn't just dead. I was like that cat in the bag. I was..."

He breaks off, all his vaunted control gone, as he suddenly sobs.

"I was something horrible. An abomination. And it left its mark on me. Even now, I have an affinity for undead. I can affect them with my spells in ways no other mage can, because I was once one of them."

Ra did a double take.
"But, but you aren't! Undead I mean."
He shook his head sharply.
"How are you alive and not-undead NOW?" He asked, still boggled at the thought.

Polux lets the Ubashki out of the bag without another word.

It yowls and hisses at him, biting his hand in unnatural rage. He smiles - "It's ok" - but his eyes are on Harmose.

The screeches stop as strong hands break the damned 'cat's' neck, and it is lain down next to the others, the group's scout moving off to the side and away from the conversation - "It is done" - he speaks to Kito now - "Undead are beyond redemption. Or are they?"

"Are they beyond redemption?" Harmose raises his tear-streaked face to look at Polux. "I don't know! I keep trying to find ways to redeem myself, but... the things I did..."

He breaks off, unable to continue.

"So I'm told Harmose" - Polux retorts with a last look at the creature which had been a cat once.

Seemingly not interested in pursuing the conversation any further, Polux simply sets to searching the area, including the apparently unfinished tunnels, and the northern passage which would eventually lead them back to where they have come from.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20+1 vs. traps.

Once he has confirmed the area is safe and devoid of any other points of interest, he pauses for a moment waiting on the others - "Shall I check the double doors?"

Quietly watching the others debate over the idea of keeping the undead cat. Keeping to the back of the group listening but not joining the conversation.

Sense Motive on Turel: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12

Normally he is so much more stoic than.. Oh he does spend time at that Temple of Pharasma. That makes sense.

Sense motive on Harmose: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Thinking to interject herself into the conversation when Harmose starts talking and then the others quickly join. It shouldn't be suprising when he says something like that. I mean its not like it said it. The look on their faces would be good.

Mouth forming an 'o' at Ra's bet I guess it's good to know that he will bet on the lives of others.

Her silence is maintained though Kito's habitual need to know what happened and Harmose's breakdown. Moving to step forward but stopping herself. At Ra's outcry which mimics the thoughts in her head. How do you come back from that? I didn't think that you could. This is not the place to talk about this

Having trouble raising her voice, Can.. Can we just finish here? And save the yelling and fighting each other until we are no longer in this horrid place Her discomfort with the whole situation is clearly written on her face.

Kito is clearly surprised by what Harmose has said. Oops! That wasn't what I was looking for. I just wanted to understand the magic. Evidently the explanation lies in the principle of contagion -- once connected, always connected. Somehow, I don't think talking magical theory is what Harmose wants right now.

Sense Motive, +2 for Thera: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 Oblivious like normal.

"If I understood you, that would depend on the Ib and Ren."

Reaching up to rub Thera's head, she adds "I have not studied such things, so I do not know the answer."

Later I will have to talk to him about how Wenet is not a normal animal.

Qari regretted her last comment about not wanting to ever be undead as soon as Harmose shared his secret. She had questions she would have loved to ask, but she couldn't bear to have to listen to him torment himself longer. Maybe he next quiet moment, she could discern how he apparently went from undead to not dead. Might be a good trick to know for the future around this place, she smiles wearily to herself.

Can.. Can we just finish here? And save the yelling and fighting each other until we are no longer in this horrid place?

"I... yes of course." Acceeded Ra, still rattled at Harmose's revelation.

One...one of them? How...??? WHY!?

"Harmose, I...I..." she stammers. No wonder he had behaved so strangely in Akhentepi's tomb. No wonder his tale grew just a little longer with each telling, layers added as trust grew and friendship...and love...bloomed.

And he's carried this with him since childhood...oh gods...oh Harmose!

Her eyes fill with tears; sorrow for innocence lost and rage for those responsible. Heedless of the others she closes the space between them in an instant and wraps her arms around him, speaking volumes without saying a single word.

Turel stares at Harmose for a moment as he digests the words and processes them, running them over and over in his mind.

That is...amazing! It runs counter to every teaching I have encountered. Undead can no more redeem themselves than a demon could. Their every essence prevents it. What did happen to you Harmose my brother? What story of the path you traveled from undeath to life have you not spoken of?

He nods in approval as Polux follows his conscience. Well done. He thinks to himself.

Turel slowly walks over to his troubled brother. He glances at Aleris first but sees Harmose's betrothed struggling for words here. Interjecting softly he says, "Harmose...my brother...I know not of the blood that stains your hand, and I know little of redemption. One thing I do know is one must SEEK redemption. It cannot be thrust upon one."

He glances back to Deseri before adding quietly , "We shall talk of this later, should you wish." Moving in front of the stone doors next to Polux Turel looks over them carefully.

Perception, Trap Intuition: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 Add +2 if stone.

Making sure to catch Harmose's eyes and smiles at him in what she hopes is a reassuring way but staying back to avoid crowding him. It seems I am in the right company all things considered. I wonder what the others pasts are like or what they will think of my oddness.

As far as Polux and Turel can tell, the area is safe, and the double doors are also safe and unlocked.

Harmose leans into Aleris, taking comfort from her warmth. She loves him. She still loves him. Blurry-eyed, he wipes his face so that he can see her properly. "මා ඔබට දණ්ඩනයට සුදුසු , හරි මේ කළේ?", he whispers.

Wenet head bumps Aleris's hand, encouraging the sylph to pet her too. Harmose smiles at the rabbit, strokes her a moment and shoos her back into his tattoo. Then he hugs Aleris back, and slowly and shakily gets back up.

"You're all right. This is a conversation for another time. Maybe tonight, at the Hookah?" He peers at the door. "If you perceive no traps, we should open it. Is everyone ready?"

He takes a deep breath, readying himself for whatever comes next.

Under any other circumstance she would've laughed and asked him why he'd posed such a, to her, silly question. Instead, she whispers, "ඔබ අරඹා මට ආදරෙයි. ඔබ, යහපත් මිනිසෙක් Harmose ඉන්නේ ඔබ හැම විටම එහෙම හිතන්නේ නැහැ පවා නම්."

As he releases her and pulls himself together, she nods in agreement. "Yes, we need to talk - but later and only if you want to." Her own hands shaking slightly, she readies her bow and looks to Polux and the others. "Let's keep moving."

"If you perceive no traps, we should open it. Is everyone ready?"

"Yes"

"Ready." Growled Ra, shield up.

B30. Pentheru’s Tomb

A stone sarcophagus rests atop a stone platform occupying the southern end of this room. The lid of the sarcophagus bears the likeness of a man and is inlaid with gemstones and trimmed in gold. Two lacquered benches run parallel to the east and west walls just north of the platform. Hieroglyphs line the walls of the chamber, and stone torch holders are set in all four corners.

Yay another one of those. I hope we do not get separated like before. Don't say that out loud. I am not sure they would think it is amusing. Tightening her grip on her crossbow and making sure to stick close to the others.

Knowledge Nobility: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Harmose peeks in the room, and says, "This is the tomb of Pentheru the Younger. He's the only member of the family to be interred in the crypt, where he has rested, supposedly undisturbed, for two millenia. Let's hope we continue the fine tradition of not disturbing him."

He points to the hieroglyphs on the walls. "The walls tell the story of Pentheru the Younger. Like many noble stories, it starts not with him, but with his parents." Harmose sighs a moment. I wonder if his parents messed him up as much as mine did to me. Harmose knows that he's not being fair to his mother and father, who had given up everything to bring him back, but at this moment, he doesn't particularly feel like being fair.

"It starts with the elevation of his father Pentheru the Elder to nobility, to establish that Pentheru the Younger is not a complete newcomer to the aristocratic class, but one with a lineage." Harmose raises his brows for a moment, then points to the next section. "This bit here describes Pentheru the Elder's subsequent death, mauled by a jaguar while hunting. Then it goes on to Pentheru the Younger’s inheritance of his father’s title and lands. The story boasts of their prosperity and success as land managers, the justness with which the family lived their lives, and the care with which they treated their slaves and servants. The text calls upon the gods to smile upon Pentheru the Younger and bless him with a good and just life in the Great Beyond."

Then Harmose purses his lips. "If this is a real tomb, and not a false one, I expect it to be trapped. You don't leave your final resting place unguarded and untrapped if you're an osirani noble. To my ancestors, tomb traps were almost a second religion. Turel and Polux, be careful when you go in there."

Qari nodded. She certainly wasn't going in there first. "Yep, you two be really careful.". Ill be waiting out here for the all clear signal...

Turel nods, "Always my brother." He then waits for Polux to enter the tomb and follows closely behind, on the lookout for any traps hidden in the stone.

Perception, Trap Intuition: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 Add +2 if stone.