Remembering the first tomb she entered with this group, Kito asks "Is it common that the traps try to separate us?" She is looking at the arch of the entry as she says this.
Polux observes the area with attention before stepping inside.
"I think that all that's left is to go in. Which one of us is going to be first?" He sighs. "If no one else will go, then I will."
"Huh. If there's a trap, it's likely one of those with a delayed trigger." Harmose walks carefully around the sarcophagus, not touching anything. Are there any secret doors, perhaps?
He detects magic as he walks through the room, hoping there might be something interesting to spot.
Turel shakes his head as he looks around. "I see no reason to defile the Younger Pentheru interred here. It is OK with me to simply verify his tomb has not been disturbed since he was lain to rest."
Harmose holds up a hand. "Wait a moment. I'm detecting a glow from inside the sarcophagus."
His brow furrows as he concentrates. What schools of magic are coming from that glow? Necromancy, or something else?
"Can you tell if there is a magic item in there, or do you think it might be the actual corpse," Qari whispers to the group.
Harmose sighs. "As expected, it's faintly necromantic. Now... I think we really have to open this sarcophagus, if only because undead creatures are an anathema." Harmose is fully aware of the irony involved in him saying this, but who's better qualified than him to judge? "Ridding tombs of them is part of our charge here. What do you say? Should we open the sarcophagus, with me readying to cast colorspray Pentheru the Younger if he happens to be more mobile than we like?"
"Can you tell anything else about it?" Kito asks.
---
"We should check the lid for traps, and then let me put my small blessing on everyone next to the sarcophagus before opening."
Kito casts Guidance on Polux and Turel as they inspect the sarcophagus.
Once people are ready to open it, she casts the same spell on Polux, Turel, Ra-Khefer, Qari and Aleris. She then nods that she is ready.
Turel shakes his head in disapproval about the decision to exhume another sarcophagus.
And how did that work out for us?
Sighing softly to himself, he looks over the sarcophagus carefully for any traps that would be triggered by opening it.
Polux likewise moves around the sarcophagus, his hand trailing its relief, looking for any signs of traps.
If none are found, he prepares himself for the 'lid opening' by drinking a shielding extract, and setting up his longspear in case anything jumps at them.
Staying in the back mumbling Is it really that bad to check and then close it again.
Lifting her crossbow and waiting.
Harmose positions himself where he can color spray without getting a colleague. "Polux, can you use your spear to open it, please? I don't want to catch you in my rainbow."
"Of course" - Polux nods, pushing the lid with his spear.
|
The first attempt may not be entirely successful as Polux lacks some leverage. With some further trying, however, you can get the sarcophagus to open.
When you open the sarcophagus, an unnatural silence and eerie feeling descends upon the tomb.
"A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
Frightened is like shaken, except that the creature must flee if possible."
"A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Shaken is a less severe state of fear than frightened or panicked."
Go ahead and react to one of those, and then...
Polux feels the discomfort falling upon their heads - "Damned cursed place" - he snarls, shaking most of it away - "Is everyone ok?"
Then peers to take a look in the sarcophagus - "A cat mummy?" - he muses.
Will
The chill of the room suddenly cuts through Qari like a hot knife through butter. "There's evil here. I can feel it. It's not these things is it," she asks, looking at the mummified cat, mask and pendant. "That cat is creepy....I'm not quite sure about all the rest."
As the lid is lifted Kito feels a sudden, irrational fear grip her. She doesn't know why, but she needs to leave !
With just the barest of squeaks, she turns and runs!
He was nine again, and they came at him from all sides. His guards fell, cut down before his very eyes. Orturo had been clawed open and the monsters were... eating him. The child stood there watching in horror, frozen, unable to move. Then old Pateba threw her fat body in front of him. "Run, Sirdar Kareem! They pounced upon her. He ran. Ran like his life depended on it, which it did...
Harmose screams, and runs, full speed out of the crypt.
Turel feels the very stone sing to him, but the song is an ancient one filled with evil. He barely manages to control the fear that floods his soul and is barely conscious of Harmose and the others who are overcome by their fears.
Turning to the others he yells "I shall retrieve them!" He then pursues Harmose, Kito and any others who fled.
Fear grips Deseri by the throat stealing her voice. Taking a step backwards and then silently running as fast as her maimed leg will let her go. Please let me stay in the now! Please!
As the eerie silence falls upon himself and Ra-Khefer, Polus stands still as death - "What now, Master Dwarf?"
"Whole place is just one gods damned curse after the other Ra - this must have been some other pall thrown at 'would be tomb robbers' et al" - Polux snarls - "I say we keep watch until the others recover their wits?"
Running until her lungs burn and her leg is throbbing. Panic coursing though her veins until it suddenly isn't anymore. Still a little behind Harmose and Kito who are faster than she is. Ignoring the the rest of the group in favor of leaning against the wall. Gulping in air, That was.. easier with a.. horse. I am.. not.. a runner! Coward yes but a runner no. Oh dear and I am traveling with people who are all faster than me. I am the slow gazelle. Damn.
Sighing deeply then pushing off of the wall. Calling out to the others Can we go back now? I feel foolish enough.
Opening her mouth and quickly shutting it. Shaking her head briefly before answering. I suddenly had to get away from that place.
Leaning her back against the wall and closing her eyes, I had no say in it. I had to leave. Taking a deep breath and putting on a big smile. That is over now and the others should be fine to. Lets get going.
Qari smiles despite herself. Usually it was her that ended up in a fleeing, shaking mess. Today it wasn't. Was she getting more used to the horrors, or learning to step herald F better? Either way it was interesting. She decided to wait for the others to get their wits before proceeding.
Turel follows behind the fleeing Harmose and Kito until their unatural terror passes from the. As they slow their flight Turel calls out, "Miss Kito! Harmose! Are you both all right?"
Someone is chasing me! I have to run faster! Can't allow myself to get caught!
As quickly as it started, the terror goes away. Kito slows, then turns around. What happened? That was strange, I don't know what came over me.
Not knowing how to explain it, she instead answers the simplest question. "I am uninjured." She then starts trotting back towards Turel saying "We should regroup."
Squinting her eyes at Aleris, There there is a rush. The quicker we are done here the quicker we get to go celebrate finishing another area. Besides shouldn't you be after Harmose?
Making a shooing motion at Aleris. I am fine go fawn of your intended.
Harmose, still in the grip of his terror, runs screaming into the Necropolis. It is only minutes later that he realizes that it is Turel chasing him, not the monsters of his memory. "Brother?" Then he sees Aleris, her lovely white hair framing her concerned face. He is still trembling, every inch of him panicked, but the sight of these two beloved people makes him take stock. They are in the deserted streets of the Necropolis, standing outside House Pentheru. Sure, there are undead about, some of them restless and hungry. But right now, the sun is shining and they are safe.
"The wights, there were so many of them... They..." He takes a deep breath, and then lets his shoulders set. "They were a memory. A memory that suddenly seemed more real than life."
Turel nods, a little too quickly. "Yes, my brother. A memory is an apt term. I felt the memories...of...the Plague. It must have been the Plague." He glances around at the silent building that make up the Necropolis and, in an uncharacteristic display, shudders heavily.
"This place is filled with memories...and other evils. We should return to the others...now." Turel adds nervously, motioning back to the entrance leading to the Crypt.