Mummy's Mask

Game Master Samy

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Stomach twisted up in knots during the whole walk and only not running because of an inkling that it would make her vomit.

Gritting his teeth Ra rumbled forward, trying to keep up with the others.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Harmose looks up at the sound of thunder. “Odd. Horus usually does not brings storms on clear blue days... Though I suppose that I could be proved wrong. Shall we investigate?”

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Qari follows in line with the others, wondering what could be going wrong this early in the day.

Auto-success on Perception.

"Yeah, but suddenly having the dead rise all across the city isn't exactly normal either," Aleris replies to Harmose. "At this point I'd say we need to be willing to expect nearly anything! Now come on, let's hurry!"

Following the sound of thunder, you arrive at an intersection where a tense standoff exists. A group of civilians has surrounded a woman who has tied up a man with rope and holds the end of the rope like a leash, controlling the man. The group of civilians is brandishing farm implements in a threatening manner while their circle is slowly closing around the woman and man.

Sense Motive (What is going on?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Harmose raises his eyebows as he looks first to the woman leading the zombie, and then to the crowd of civilians with farm implements. He steps forward, hands in the air, between the crowd and the woman.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

My, what a swingy set of rolls...

“My friends, let me introduce myself. I am Harmose al-Nefer. My group from Discoveries Unlimited has been slaying undead all over this city. I am so happy to see so many competent citizens such as yourselves out and about today, protecting our streets!” He glad-hands the crowd like a politician running for office, then looks back at the nervous looking woman. “Still... Do we really need this MANY people dealing with ONE zombie? It appears that this woman is handling him already.” Harmose smiles encouragingly at the woman, then turns to the crowd. “Madam, congratulations on capturing this zombie. Well done! Now... Can you tell us why you have it tied up? What... er... were you planning on doing with it?”

Horus, please don’t let her be another necromancer...

Well, *that* Diplomacy resolves the situation pretty damn fast. The adventure as written only needed Diplomacy DC 15 to disperse the crowd and that goes way beyond it... :D

As Harmose steps forward to address the crowd, they are captivated by his mien and demeanor. All the proverbial baby-kissing and whatnot instantly disarms the crowd and they lower their weapons, losing all semblance of aggression.

"Wow, we've got an honest-to-goodness group of undead slayers on site!"

"I don't think we're really needed here anymore, are we?"

"It is just one abomination, after all..."

"And he does look so charming."

"I'm sure this will be properly resolved now that someone with authority is on site."

The crowd disperses and begins to drift off to four winds almost instantly after Harmose mingles with them, and all that's left is the woman and her tied-up zombie.

"I...I am called Sehhosep Naahn", the woman begins in a shuddering, clearly distraught voice. "I am an instructor at the Hall of Blessed Rebirth..."

"This is my husband, Bentu...he passed away the other day...but the gods...the gods..." She's blinking away tears. "The gods gave him back to me, after all...with my magic, perhaps I can restore him...I was on my way to do just that..."

I don't think the rest of the group has met the Naahns before...if I'm wrong, just attribute her non-recognition to her messed up state. As for Deseri, Sehhosep just hasn't spotted her yet.

Kito shifts nervously. She doesn’t realize what has happened to the man? How horrible! If a god did this, it wasn’t as a blessing.

“If you don’t mind saying, what exactly happened?”

Sucking in a breath and feeling her stomach roll. One hand drops to her belly and the other to her lips, "No!"

Shaky steps bring her from her place at the end of her party to stop just before Sehhosep. Tears streaming down her cheeks, "Sehh..Sehhosep I sorry it took so long."

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

“Sehhosep.” Harmose repeats, suddenly placing the name. Horus’s wings, that Bentu is the father of Des’s baby. Harmose talks to the woman, gently. “You’re the family that took in our Des, right? We are so very grateful to all that you have done for her.”

Then he takes Sehhosep’s hand. “Are you aware that Bentu is... undead?” Harmose’s skin is crawling as he thinks of it, remembering what it was like to have his own soul trapped in an abomination. Though his hand trembles, he remains calm for the sake of Des and this couple that she loves. “We should all talk, somewhere out of the public street. Is your home nearby?”

Turel reflexively raises his spear to strike at the zombie before Harmose's words cause him to lower the point though not too far.

Sense Motive DC 17: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Turel notes the look of revulion on Kito's face, acknowledging her with a slight nod of his own.

I have no difficulty in shouldering the consequences of destroying this...this Khat of Bentu. The Ka and Ba have reunited in the heavens now. The Akhu is at peace now.

Kn. Local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

A look of horrified comprehension slowly dawns over Aleris' face as she realizes what has happened and what they're now dealing with.

His death and 'rebirth' have fractured her mind...oh Shelyn, please show her some mercy in her grief!

She wants to fold both women - Deseri and Sehhosep - into a hug but knows this isn't the place. Not out here.

"Harmose is right...we should talk indoors, where it's safer," she finally manages to say, giving both Kito and Turel a slight warning look.

Not yet. Give Harmose some time. Please.

Ra strode up from behind, ready to crush their enemies and see them driven before them... Only to find Harmose dispersing them with a word and a smile.
He dropped the head of his heavy flail to the ground and leaned on it with disgust.
*koff*

Polux wasn't expecting this, so he simply stares blankly at the situation, following the others - "I'll keep watch at the door"- he adds as they enter, but leaves the door ajar to listen in on the conversation.

"Yes, our home is right down the street..." Sehhosep answers Harmose, and hugs Deseri. "It's all right, it's all right...everything can be fixed now...it all makes sense now. It was all just a test...just a test..."

The group leaves the open street and adjourns to the Naahn residence. Bentu is, obviously, not big on conversation.

Sehhosep is also on the quiet side. She answers Harmose's question, whether she acknowledges that Bentu is undead, with "Technically... I suppose he is... he is undead, temporarily... but it can surely be fixed. That's why no magic helped before...this was meant to happen."

At this, Aleris can't help but speak up. "Um...meant to happen? How do you mean?" she asks cautiously.

“Sehhosep, I am pretty sure that this wasn’t meant to happen,” Harmose says, gently, trying to keep his hands from shaking. “I was...” Now Harmose is trembling outright. “...I was murdered as a small child, then brought back by a necromancer who fashioned me into an undead thing. I killed others. I did horrible, horrible things. My soul was fragmented, torn apart...” Harmose breaks down, suddenly crying. “Don’t let Bentu stay this way. Please. He deserves so much better.”

”I have to agree. I’m not sure an undead can be controlled, no matter how close they were to you before,” Qari implores.

Keeping her fingers linked with Sehhosep, constantly looking between the kind grieving woman and the now moving corpses of the father of the child in her belly. I'm gonna throw up. This isn't right. Oh Gods this broke her. Is the baby the only thing I am gonna have left of these two?

"Sehhosep you might not be able to get him back but if you wanna try to bring his soul back I will help how ever I can."

"If you ever want to meet his soul in the bone yard or beyond, we need to make it whole." Kito offers. She does give Deseri a strange look as she says this.

It looks like age took the fellow, not an injury. Although this is neither the time nor place to discuss it, I think it would be a bad idea to try to bring him back.

Aid Diplo: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Sitting down with Sehhosep at her private residence, you spend a good hour going back and forth on various metaphysical texts, quoting passages and dissecting semantics. It's slow going, but little by little, you bring her closer to the land of the sane, and she begins to gradually acknowledge that maybe Bentu's return as an undead wasn't the gods' great plan all along. After an exhausting talk, she gives up on the idea of the gods having sent her husband back to her, and you can either dispose of the zombie or leave it for her to dispose of. Despite her heart breaking upon giving up on her husband, she nonetheless wishes to give you some thanks for helping her see the light. She goes out of the room for a moment, rattles around a little, and then returns, giving the group the following items:

* a potion of cure moderate wounds
* two scrolls of levitate
* a scroll of ray of exhaustion
* a scroll of silent image
* 190 gp

There's no need to identify since the items come from someone who knows what they are.

Panic Level: -2 (15 to 13); -1 from dispersing mob, -1 for doing so without violence or threats

“You have suffered enough. We can take care of it.” Kito replies gently.

She is still attached to the physical body. Some token may help her transition in her grief.

“Would you like his ashes afterwords?”

Sehhosep seems to hesitate a few moments, as if having second thoughts...but then shakes her head and gets on with it. "That...would be very kind, thank you."

Turel raises his spear and offers a quick prayer, May you be reunited with your missing Ka and Ba, before driving the haft of the spear into the zombie's back.

Once the grisly deed is completed he nods to Kito, "You may burn the remains now. Bentu is at peace now."

I believe we were allowed to spontaneously have at hand any item of less than 1 GP? I would like to invoke that for a small box to hold the ashes.

Kito pours oils over the body and incinerates it. She says a short prayer to Pharasma as she stirs the ashes.

Once they have cooled enough, she sweeps the ashes up into a small box and gives them to Sehhosep.

As Kito sees to the cremation of Bentu's body, Aleris bows her head and offers up a short prayer - one that Harmose and Turel might recognize, having heard it once before.

"Though all must someday meet the Lady of Graves and face her judgement, a person's actions in life reach beyond death and ripple down through the ages. May your memory live on in the ripples brought about by your life - those whom you loved, and those that loved you, for love is the greatest of all things."
________

Some time later, perhaps once Sehhosep and Deseri have had some time to themselves to mourn, Aleris looks to the group. "We should probably get going soon...from the sounds of it, there's still a lot happening outside in the streets," she suggests gently.

Taking Sehhosep's hand and taking her further into the house, away from what has to happen. Sitting quietly with her while they wait. Feeling her stomach roll and her heart shatter.

Harmose also kneels. “Horus, please guide his soul. He was worthy in life. Help him find his way to Pharasma, and whatever afterlife he’s headed to beyond.”

You perform the necessary rites and take care of Bentu's cremation. Sehhosep accepts the box with ashes silently. There's nothing further to do in this household.

Turel secures his gear as the party prepares to depart Sehhosep's abode. "I believe Meehr Zet's residence was our next destination?"

"I think so," Aleris nods. "Her family's probably got plenty of guards so they should be fine but we still need to go by and make sure."

"I wonder if any of this has spread to the outskirts" Kito ponders with some trepidation. I hope my family and Terhk Fourwinds are alright.

Polux went through the whole proceedings in silence - after the cremation is finished, he walks close to Sehhosep - "Now he will be in peace, and you will find yours also" - are his only words.

"I think so," Aleris nods. "Her family's probably got plenty of guards so they should be fine but we still need to go by and make sure."

"Very well then" - he agrees with Turel and Aleris, scanning the surrounding area from the doorstep.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

”Kito, I’m afraid this whole town is going to be affected, if they haven’t already been. Outskirts, and the more populated areas. The undead seem to be just everywhere...”

Wrapping her arms around Sehhosep and kissing the woman on the cheek, "I'll be back when I can. Please stay safe and don't be alone."

After handling Sehhosep's situation with grace and skill, you next head toward Meehr Zet, whose dwelling is in the Veins district along the shoreline. You navigate the streets of Wati without much incident, until you encounter a bizarre sight a few blocks from the Tooth & Hookah:

As you approach a street intersection, a trio of zombies threatens a lone woman. Before you can intervene, a soul-shaking howl fills the air and a pair of hideous creatures -- horrible masked amalgams of bear and crocodile -- burst from an alley. These creatures* tear into the zombies, felling them but injuring the human woman in the process. They begin feeding on the decayed flesh of the slain undead while the human lies dying in the street.

(Image)

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"Don't hurt the creatures that attacked the zombies! Their actions are most likely in support of Pharasma's teachings."

Kito then moves within 35' of the woman while staying out of the reach of the pair of creatures destroying the zombies. She then casts stabilize on her and says "That should give us a little bit of time!"

knowledge planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Harmose casts sanctuary on himself and walks towards the woman. "Easy now. " Harmose says to the psychopomps. "I've no intention of getting between you and your prey, but this woman's a bystander. Let me help her."

Turel readies his spear but does not attack the creatures, instead taking a guarding position by the unconscious woman. "Do you recognize her, my brother?"

Planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

We are not forsaken. "All those things want is to purge the undead."

Kn. Planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"Seems like whoever called them could've called something that exercises a little more discretion when attacking their targets," Aleris scowls. She readies an arrow and raises her bow, aiming at one of the feasting psychopomps.

"I don't care if they're here by Pharasma's will, if they attack one of us I'm putting an arrow in one of them," she warns. "Try and see if you can get her out of the way; I've got you covered!"

Qari also prepares to use her cold blast if the interlopers become a threat for the group. ”Let is have the woman and you lot can have the zombies,” she whispers.

"I don't care if they're here by Pharasma's will, if they attack one of us I'm putting an arrow in one of them," she warns. "Try and see if you can get her out of the way; I've got you covered!"

As Harmose moves close, Polux follows, spear at the ready, and nodding in agreement with Aleris.

Kito has no trouble casting stabilize on the fallen bystander, hanging back as much as 35' which seems to be outside the esobok psychopomps' aggro radius (to use MMO terminology). The civilian is stable, and the creatures pay no attention to her unmoving, unconscious form.

The esoboks are munching and feasting eagerly on the zombies that they took down, and seem to be focusing strongly on them -- however, approaching close to them will cause them to growl and snap at anyone nearby. Whether they understand Harmose's words is unclear, but they do react as aggressively to his approaching as they would to anyone else's approaching.

If you want to go physically next to the woman, you will have to go within physical proximity of the esoboks and take the risk that they might react aggressively. Will you move in and try to provide physical shelter to the civilian, if it looks like it could provoke a physical fight?

Kito gives the esobaks a wide berth but slowly inches her way around to where she could sprint in and protect the woman if needed. She does not mind the esobaks making a lunch of the zombies as long as they don't threaten the woman.

"As long as they don't hurt the woman, I would rather not hurt them. If left alone, I believe they would help destroy more of the undead infecting Wati."

Turel holds up his spear in a readied position as he maneuvers next to Kito, "While I share your sentiments Kito," he grimaces, "these esobok are much like the sand leopard...territorial to the extreme."

“Messy eaters too...wish they were as fast as they are messy!”

"Well...is it safe to just leave her there? She's not dead but can they tell that?" Aleris asks, her bow still raised and trained on the feasting creatures. "What if they move on to her once they're finishing with those maggoty messes??"

Aleris, you are the one who got the fantastic Kn check. You know the answer to that second question yourself.

"Well...they seem much more interested in the zombies." Kito doesn't seem very sure of herself.