Akhmose's eyes widen at the "remains" of the mummy. "Good thinking to set it on fire." He seems impressed at the bravo's tale.
A "she", so it wasn't Thutsis, he muses, recalling his ancestor who was a sworn tomb guardian but was cursed after stealing a priceless gem, according to clan lore. I wonder if he is still lurking somewhere.
This was a side of Shalina the cleric had never been introduced to, and he looked at her wide-eyed as she took her seat next to him, red karkadé still dripping from his chin.
"Um... Forgive me if I'm prying, Miss Sekh-at, but... Would I be correct in assuming that this is the... 'bug brother' that you mentioned?"
Shalina gave Rubani a tired smile. She pointed at her chin, ”You have a little something right there.”
She took a huge gulp of the drink that appeared before her before answering Rubani. ”Sadly, you are correct. I keep telling him that he is dead to our family and yet he persists…like a disease infecting all those around him because he is unable to survive on his own. He thinks of himself as clever but Shanun is nothing more than a ruffian.” She took another drink. ”He is the type of person you would not want exploring with you. I doubt he took the Pharasmins’ instructions seriously if he listened at all.”
Speaking quietly - for this was a serious and delicate matter - Azghaad raised his issue.
"It was very kind of your uncle to invite us all to stay. Staying together would make it easier for us to set out tomorrow. Obviously I take Hospitality very seriously. I cannot help thinking that your uncle assumes I am some lone wanderer, rather than the leader of a small Household. I don't feel I can abandon them, I'm not sure your uncle has the space to hold us all, and I don't wish to insult him by refusing his hospitality. I was hoping you might be able to offer some insight."
"Additionally, I noted that he is obviously an educated man and you yourself are Gifted. Is your uncle inclined to the Arcane Arts?"
Seeing how solemn Azghaad was in requesting to talk, Shalina gave him her full attention and leaned in so that he could talk quietly. When he voiced his concern, she smiled at him reassuringly. ”Of course your family takes priority. Even though my uncle is Garundi, he is a businessman and understands that cultural traditions cannot always be adhered to. If you are worried about insulting him, do not be. It will be fine if you decline staying with the rest of us for the sake of your household. In answer to your other question, the answer is no. My gifting came from my mother and does not run in my father’s family.” And thankfully was never passed to my brother, she added to herself.
The cleric dabbed at his chin with a napkin as he listened to Shalina confirm that the man with the newly dislocated jaw was indeed her brother. Sadly, he could only give a lame response.
"I... see. Sorry to hear it."
He wasn't quite sure what he was sorry about. That Shanun had no respect for the sanctity of the grave? That was a matter of course. That a friend's brother had hurt her in some way? Certainly. That a family could be so divided as to warrant violence? Yes. Rubani, like so many other half-elves, didn't have much in the way of family. It saddened him to see such animosity between siblings. Still, he had no doubt that the bard's virulence was well founded. The cleric cast a momentary stern glance to the bad apple of the Sekh-at family before conjuring his now empty glass full of icy water.
With Shalina now occupied in some matter of apparent significance with Azghaad, the half-elf found himself distracted by the tall tales of the Cryptfinders. For, as he listened, Rubani became increasingly convinced that their grand tales of adventure were pure fabrication. When the party leader pulled out the burnt bandages of the supposed mummy he had to intervene. Not because he felt any sort of moral outrage over someone trying to score some free drinks and attention in a tavern; that he had seen all too often before. What bothered him was that one of those lied to was his friend and ally.
Rubani leaned in close to the paladin and whispered.
"Akhmose, I can't tell you why but Mr Falto is lying."
In response to the dwarf's questioning look he could only answer:
"Trust me on this. When you've seen as many funerals as I have you learn to recognize sincerity. Mr Falto has defeated no more mummies than I have dragons."
After Rubani points out Falto's fabrications, Akhmose slips away from his table silently. He sits and listens to the other parties with a new degree of skepticism. He thanks his friend. "Best watch our backs. If they would claim deeds they have not done, they would just as soon steal from us, or worse."
Guys: I'm on the road and won't back at my desk until Wednesday. I may be able to post tomorrow but I'm not sure at this time.
Game on!
With the benefit of a drink warming her insides, Shalina leaned over to the table of Dog Soldiers and spoke to the two halflings who looked rather somber. “Would a tale of how we almost drowned in the desert garner a brighter mood from you both? Or maybe inspire you to tell a tale of your own? My name is Shalina, part of the Grave Guard.”
The halflings looked at each other and one shrugged a shoulder. Shalina took that as a yes and began her tale.
“It all began with us finally opening a stubbornly locked door. As soon as we pushed open the door, our eyes were drawn to this beautifully ornate sarcophagus displayed on a dais in the middle of the room. Naturally we were thinking that we had found something special and paid little attention to the columns in each corner or the two statues that flanked the sarcophagus. As we began to cautiously look around we obviously were not careful enough and the drama unfolded all at once. ZAP! Lightning arced between columns and fried my hair – and me in the process.” Shalina pointed at the burned patch of hair near her temple as proof. “BANG!” Shalina slammed her fist down on the table for affect, “the doors slammed shut cutting off our escape while the opposite doors – which had been closed - burst open with a torrent of water. I grew up here in Wati and I have never seen that much flowing water in one place apart from a river. Before we could blink, we were ankle deep in water.” Shalina paused and took a swig of her drink. “Lightning…water…barred doors…you would think that was enough to deal with, right? But whoever designed this room had other ideas. To my amazement, the sarcophagus began to move! Now we are in knee deep water and have to fight against an object that should not be able to twitch let alone shuffle towards you. But it is a coffin…what could it possibly do to us, right? After all, it has no arms to wield a weapon. So what does it do? It swallows our warpriest whole! Now we are fighting in thigh-high water and she is trapped inside slowly suffocating to death. Needless to say, it looked grim and we all thought we were going to drown in the desert. But we are adventurers, are we not? Of course we could not give up. Even our wizard picked up her dropped warhammer and tried to gain enough momentum to crack the construct and free our warpriest. It was then that I remembered an old fairy tale from my youth about desert sarcophagi being vulnerable to cold. Thankfully Pharasma granted our cleric the ability to harness ice and we were able to shatter the coffin and destroy the magic that fueled its movement. By this time, the water was waist deep. Just as we were preparing to meet our watery grave we realized that the water had quit rising. Turns out that once the coffin was destroyed, the water stopped. Drowning averted!” Shalina sat back and crossed her arms. “And that is how we almost drowned in the desert."
She studied the faces of the two halflings briefly before asking, "So, did this inspire a tale of your own or at least brighten your mood?"
tag halflings
With the benefit of a drink warming her insides, Shalina leaned over to the table of Dog Soldiers ...
Nicely done; I'll reply for the halflings tonight when I recap.
Game on!
Great turn, thanks Shalina (and others).
Turn 035 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
Azghaad expressed his sympathy for the loss of the dogs.
"I did know a good healer, a talented alchemist, but..." he trailed off, thinking of the team he lost the first day.
"Perhaps Boram would be able to help, or knows someone who might." he offered, lamely.
Azghaad can't help but pity the Sand Scorpions, so lacking in magical talent. Agility, bravery, cunning, all very well - but the Grave Guard would, he felt sure, have routed the Ghouls.
His pity lasted right up until they started trying to poach his team-mates.
'Smoothly' he interjected
"Perhaps some Holy Water? Do these ghouls have any weaknesses? Silver, perhaps?"
"If you're sure you know where these ghouls are..." he paused, looked at Rubani and continued with what he was sure the priest would want "... then perhaps all of us should join forces and strike at them now, before they pick at us."
Azghaad greedily slurped at his coffee. While in practice nothing was forbidden a cleric of Nethys, the supply of coffee available to the Ghostgroves was both limited and inferior in quality.
"I'm not desperate to sell." Agreed Azghaad amiably "If you think you can protect them while you find buyers I, at least, am amenable to other ideas. I'd like to study the books and artefacts anyway. What commission would you charge to act as an agent, and what timeframe do you expect?"
Rubani listened with amusement to the bard's retelling of their trip into the tomb of Akhentepi. He had no idea that their expedition could make for such an engaging tale. Then again, he reminded himself, in this case it probably had more to do with the storyteller than the actual story. That said, the mental image of Azghaad wielding Naomi's warhammer did bring a smile to his face. Somehow the oversized weapon had looked more out of place with the wizard than with the vertically challenged woman.
"Heh. You know, Mr Glyphstele, I never commended you for your work with that hammer earlier. It was truly a sight to behold. Mr Blackwolf couldn't have done it better himself."
The cleric's mood turned somber, however, when the halflings spoke of the dogs they had lost today. When they mentioned that one of their remaining dogs seemed ill and that they were in need of a healer Rubani simply rose up and said:
"Show me."
A turf war between roving gangs of ghouls? What?!
Rubani stared at the leader of the Sand Scorpions as she explained the team's predicament. He had heard rumors of the undead in the Necropolis but had no idea things were this bad.
The cleric's shock turned into unease as the woman then tried to recruit himself and his fellow Pharasmin as ghoul-slayers. Put on the spot like this, he felt a momentary dilemma as he wrestled with his responsibility as a Pharasmin cleric vs. his duty to his own party. But only for a moment.
"Uhm... Thank you for your interest. But I'm afraid I have a prior engagement," he replied, looking at the Grave Guard. "I couldn't possibly abandon them for tomorrow's expedition in good conscience, and..." He hesitated. "And if I'm frank I resent the idea that you would deprive, and thusly endanger, one team of any member so as to benefit your own."
"Please. Please don't go to the Necropolis tomorrow. You are right to be hesitant. Facing the undead is not worth it, not worth any potential wealth you might uncover, not even if the lost treasure vault of An-Hepsu lies under this incense shop of yours. You are not simply endangering your lives. The undead are not so merciful. You endanger your immortal souls. If you must go then I implore you to at least wait until I, or indeed all of the Grave Guard if willing, can join you. Ghouls are a serious threat, one I wish to see eradicated, but if we do this it needs to be done right."
Beneath his genuine worry the cleric once again cursed the pharaoh that came up with this exploration lottery and the church that sanctioned it.
"I'm not desperate to sell." Agreed Azghaad amiably "If you think you can protect them while you find buyers I, at least, am amenable to other ideas. I'd like to study the books and artefacts anyway. What commission would you charge to act as an agent, and what timeframe do you expect?"
Namrut nodded, "Of course, I can protect my property." He turned his head and looked at them, "Ten percent is standard but I'll try my best to sell the objects at their best price. Maybe a couple of months for the entire set but I'll pay you as I sell them. Do we have a deal?" Do you all need money now to continue your exploration?"
"Please. Please don't go to the Necropolis tomorrow. You are right to be hesitant. Facing the undead is not worth it, not worth any potential wealth you might uncover, not even if the lost treasure vault of An-Hepsu lies under this incense shop of yours. You are not simply endangering your lives. The undead are not so merciful. You endanger your immortal souls. If you must go then I implore you to at least wait until I, or indeed all of the Grave Guard if willing, can join you. Ghouls are a serious threat, one I wish to see eradicated, but if we do this it needs to be done right."
The veiled woman was adamant, "We must go but it's OK. I understand. You want to loot your own tomb and then come for ours after we die. Are you trying to scare us? Is that it?"
Action 1
Akhmose assisted Rubani as best he could while the cleric investigated the sick dog.
Hearing about the ooze reminded him he should purchase some more flasks of alkali.
Action 2
Akhmose gave a small bow to Namrut and thanked him for his hospitality. As a guest gift, he gave him a small stone carving he had made, showing a shorebird. "An ibis for blessings...they are heralds of the flood. May your family always find water." He spent some time discussing the various papers and objects with him.
Shalina motioned for drinks for their table and the halflings. “It is never easy to lose any member of your party. We shall drink a toast to your brave dogs who gave their lives so that others could live.”
He showed his longsword again, “But at least we have this to show for it. What did you all get for your troubles?
Shalina knew better than to give even a hint of what they had found that day. There were more than just the ears of the halflings listening for the answer to his question. She smiled sadly. “Alas, as you have heard from my tale, we had to destroy the item of value that we stumbled upon in order to save our warpriest.”
Shalina purposefully stayed out of the discussion with her uncle about any specific agreement details. She wanted to make sure that the others were comfortable with the decision they made with regards to doing business with Namrut. She didn't want them thinking that she had a hidden agenda or designs to steer their minds in any particular direction.
She did add her own thoughts to Azghaad's when he mentioned wanting to look over the books and artefacts they had found before they were sold. "I too would like to read through the books and other documents before they are sold. The history preserved within the tomb has proved to be quite fascinating."
"What do you think, Shalina and Namrut? These papers refer to the tomb of Akhentepi's mistress. Do you think it was ever built?"
"What do you think, Shalina and Namrut? These papers refer to the tomb of Akhentepi's mistress. Do you think it was ever built?"
Shalina shrugged. "I was not all that familiar with Akhentepi before starting this journey. I knew about the man but not about his mistress. That was why I wanted to study the books and documents so that I could learn more. Perhaps uncle can check with his contacts and find out more information. It may be something we want to look into when our work is finished. If the tomb was built, finding it would be a continuation of what we have discovered about Akhentepi."
tag?
The veiled woman was adamant, "We must go but it's OK. I understand. You want to loot your own tomb and then come for ours after we die. Are you trying to scare us? Is that it?"
"How you, you filthy little prose!" Azghaad, aghast at the disrespect shown, threw courtesy to the wind "Rubani is a cleric of Pharasma! When my group died they spent their first day trying to help them! He buried the shrivelled, dried up body of a tomb robber we found! He stopped me burning a flood of mummies because we hadn't proven they were animated!"
"He CARES about lives. Even the lives of Tomb Robbers like us. Of COURSE he's trying to scare you, because you SHOULD be scared. He wants you to live, to take this seriously! You think we've been offering to help you because we want your pitiful treasures? Have you SEEN this group? There are FOUR divine servants in it! You think we're motivated by gold? ARE YOU BLIND!""I WAS thinking we'd be helping you for FREE, for the COMMON GOOD, until you spat on my friend Rubani for trying to keep you alive!"
The veiled woman was adamant, "We must go but it's OK. I understand. You want to loot your own tomb and then come for ours after we die. Are you trying to scare us? Is that it?"
"How DAREyou, you filthy little prose!" Azghaad, aghast at the disrespect shown, threw courtesy to the wind "Rubani is a cleric of Pharasma! When my group died they spent their first day trying to help them! He buried the shrivelled, dried up body of a tomb robber we found! He stopped me burning a flood of mummies because we hadn't proven they were animated!"
"He CARES about lives. Even the lives of Tomb Robbers like us. Of COURSE he's trying to scare you, because you SHOULD be scared. He wants you to live, to take this seriously! You think we've been offering to help you because we want your pitiful treasures? Have you SEEN this group? There are FOUR divine servants in it! You think we're motivated by gold? ARE YOU BLIND!"
"I WAS thinking we'd be helping you for FREE, for the COMMON GOOD, until you spat on my friend Rubani for trying to keep you alive!"
Shalina stepped forward and placed her hand on Azghaad’s arm and said, “Calm down, my friend. She is only trying to look out for her own group’s interests which is perfectly understandable. I am sure she meant no disrespect.” Shalina knew that the Sand Scorpions meant every disrespect and wanted to bait them but she also didn't want the situation escalating further than it already had.
Smiling at the woman, she said. “Please forgive my friend's outburst. He is fiercely loyal and is very confident, perhaps too confident, in the rest of our abilities. I think you would have better luck finding the help you seek with the Cryptfinders. After all, they have faced a mummy and been victorious. Meanwhile, our warpriest managed to be swallowed by a sarcophagus and our cleric here is a self-professed mid-wife. I am not sure how much help they would be to you against ghouls. If it were me, I would choose those who have proven themselves against the undead.”
Smiling at the woman, she said. “Please forgive my friend's outburst. He is fiercely loyal and is very confident, perhaps too confident, in the rest of our abilities. I think you would have better luck finding the help you seek with the Cryptfinders. After all, they have faced a mummy and been victorious. Meanwhile, our warpriest managed to be swallowed by a sarcophagus and our cleric here is a self-professed mid-wife. I am not sure how much help they would be to you against ghouls. If it were me, I would choose those who have proven themselves against the undead.”
Black Kiss' hand had dissapeared within her robes but her intent was hardly hidden. She had been insulted and was about to retaliate the only way she knew how. But Shalina's intervention stayed her hand and averted the confrontation.
She looked at Azghaad, "We are doing only what we were asked to do. We are not breaking any laws here so please keep your sermons to yourself. If you can't help us with our... enterprise, I'm sure I'll find others who can."
She breathed easier, "But don't come running to us if you get into trouble and be careful because trouble is everywhere here in Wati."
She then turned to her companions and downed another drink.
OOC: So you'll take Namrut's deal (he'll sell at his best price as buyers appear and he'll pay you 90% of the sell value)?
Do you want more time to roleplay this night or should I take you back to Akhentepi's tomb the next morning?
Let me know as I plan to recap tomorrow night.
Game on!
Azghaad let himself be guided back to his own group, and waited until back at their table to hiss
"It's not right. We shouldn't be letting her talk about Rubani like this. I mean, I'm Nethian, so I understand why she'd think I'd do that. But why would she think he would? He's so..." he discarded a few harsher words before settling on a gentler one "...unworldly. Typical that one of them should get advice from an expert and immediately distrust it. It's soured me towards cooperation - though I do want to talk to the Nexani mage."
Drink in hand Azghaad made his way over to the mage again
"I hope I'm not bothering you." he inquired politely "I realise this is not the time, but I understand you are from Nex? I am a great admirer. May I ask your name and affiliation?"
ooc: That's Ok Rubani. we're all busy every once in a while, which is why we have five players so others can pick up the slack. You can always reminisce and roleplay the outcome of the scene out.
Turn 036 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
(1)
To Namrut's query, Akhmose replied "It would be an honor to show it to you. You might help us understand the significance of the various rooms and their murals. But perhaps it is best to wait until we have cleared out all the threats."
(2)
Akhmose spends some time haggling with merchants, selling his dorn-dergar to an armorer. He visits a priestess of Sarenrae and a Thuvian alchemist in the marketplace.
(3)
Snakes! Metal ones! Well, he'd seen stranger things already. Akhmose waited for one to strike and tried to slice it in half with his khopesh.
Pulling back in an effort to avoid the snake, he sliced nothing but air. This time he tried to strike first, but once again was too slow. He held his shield aloft as the snake raised its head high, and waited for another opportunity.
Actions 1:
Azghaad looked pensively at the old man, then looked to his niece.
"Up to you, I think, Shalina."
Actions 2:
"Friends, I would like you to reconsider these alchemical vials you carry on your persons."
Actions 3:
Round 1:
"No fire in here!" ordered Azghaad, as he anxiously looked at the room and backed away.
A silver streak of light emerged from his hand at a shouted word and slammed into the nearest cobra.
Round 2, everyone crowded in:
Azghaad shrugged and allowed his team-mates the room to prove their martial skill.
Round 2, people are actually backing away:
Azghaad, gestured for his team mates to move behind him and prepared to burn the snakes when they entered the burn zone.
Wednesday is my 'free' night so I 'usually' have time to recap...
Let's get a couple of more actions.
Game on!
Rubani stared at the rising sun until the glare became too strong. Then he shut his eyes tight and didn't open them again as he started his hour-long morning prayer. Years ago, when he first started out as an apprentice cleric, the half-elf had chosen dawn as his stipulated time of prayer and magic renewal. He liked its symbolic connection with birth and new life. But as he muttered his way through his appeal, all the while slowly tracing his faith's spiral over his chest, it wasn't expectant mothers and newborns he was praying for. He prayed for the Sand Scorpions. He didn't pray for his goddess to protect the tomb robbers from any potential ghouls. That wasn't the Pharasmin way. Every soul had its appointed time, its own fate. There was no stopping fate. One could only alter the circumstances around one's fate. Rubani merely prayed for the safe passage of the Sand Scorpions' souls, if nothing else. Should any of them fall today then he wished for their spirits to remain intact and free of undeath.
He halted his worship for a second as an ache in his sore back suddenly flared. The cleric really hoped he wouldn't have any more bodies to bury in the nearest future.
Rubani had only a moment to marvel at the chamber the party found themselves in. No decoy, but the actual grave of Akhentepi. And to think that they had left the tomb yesterday so close to finding it. But the two metal snakes were a more immediate concern. Not that they weren't marvels in their own right, but their obvious desire to sink their fangs into the party overrode any feelings of admiration from the cleric.
The half-elf stepped up behind Akhmose, the most likely of his allies to fight the snakes head-on. He laid his hand on the dwarf's armored back and uttered a short prayer. A faint glow entered Akhmose.
Aiming to give his companions more room to maneuver in the small room Rubani moved back as an icicle formed in his hand. Would his meager ice projectiles even have an effect against the snakes' metal hides, he wondered? He flung the missile across the room and then asked the more knowledgeable members of the party:
"Mr Glyphstele, Miss Sekh-at, does either of you have any idea what these things are?"
Hit: Metal was surely stronger than ice, but the magically blessed icicle manged to dent and damage the snake's metal plating.
Miss: The serpent snatched Rubani's icicle out of the air and crushed it into a thousand pieces between its powerful jaws, much to the cleric's chagrin.
He peered cautiously at the group, “While artifacts are great… would it be possible for me to see the tomb? Would an older gentleman like myself be in mortal danger protected by the likes of you?
To Namrut's query, Akhmose replied "It would be an honor to show it to you. You might help us understand the significance of the various rooms and their murals. But perhaps it is best to wait until we have cleared out all the threats."
Azghaad looked pensively at the old man, then looked to his niece.
"Up to you, I think, Shalina."
Shalina placed her hand on her uncle’s upper arm. “You know that you are more than welcome to see the tomb. However,” Shalina paused so the words would sink in, “considering we almost died a couple of times yesterday I think Akhmose is most prudent. Once we know that we have made it as safe as possible, you can come. Sound fair?”
Namrut looked disappointed but nodded his head. “Of course, I understand. I will try to be patient.”
“You will not have to wait long, uncle. We should finish our explorations tomorrow.”
Round 1:
Shalina was intrigued by the appearance of the metallic cobras. Their movement was mesmerizing but then Rubani's voice cut through and Shalina refocused.
"Mr Glyphstele, Miss Sekh-at, does either of you have any idea what these things are?"
She watched them as they approached and tried to determine if there was anything she knew that could help combat them.
"No fire in here!" ordered Azghaad, as he anxiously looked at the room and backed away.
She reversed out of the room at Azghaad’s instruction and readied a flask of alchemist’s fire to help in the attack.
Round 2:
Once the snakes were in the area outlined by Azghaad, Shalina threw her flask at the snakes.
If it hits: The flask shattered in a whoosh of flames that engulfed the two snakes. Metal plates fused together as the heat melted the constructs.
If it misses: The flask shattered just behind the snakes and the majority of the flames exploded harmlessly behind the constructs. The periphery of the flames just singed the snakes and they continued to hiss in anger.
Turn 037 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
INITIATIVE
ROUND 1
NAOMI SCYTHE
, hit
AKHMOSE MISSES
AZGHAAD MAGIC MISSILE
, fail
COBRA 1 AT AKHMOSE
, miss
COBRA 2 AT Naomi or Shalina
, Naomi
, miss
SHALINA WITHDRAWS AND KNOWLEDGE CHECK
, fail
RUBANI CASTS SHIELD OF FAITH ON AKHMOSE
ROUND 2
NAOMI SCYTHE
, miss
AKHMOSE MISSES
AZGHAAD HOLDS ACTION, TOO CROWDED
COBRA 1 AT AKHMOSE
, miss
COBRA 2 AT NAOMI
, miss
SHALINA THROWS ALCHEMICAL FIRE
RUBANI MISSES WITH ICICLE
Akhmose heard Agzhaad's call to withdraw, but the snakes were dancing at his feet. Better to finish them quickly. Once more he swung the khopesh, aiming at the head of the partly melted snake. Twice he swung, but the dwarf failed to find the rhythm, and swung wide each time. He shook his head. At least he had a nimbus of protection from Rubani's spell. It looked like he was going to need it.
Azghaad backed away even further as the flame took "They seem protected from my magic." he explained nervously, backing out of the room "I wish we didn't have to destroy them - they are beautiful creatures. If only there was some way to..." struck by inspiration he paused, then continued "Keep going! I'm going to get a chest from the roach room! Maybe we can restrain one!"
Azghaad bolted up the corridor, back to the room where they had fought the roaches. Quickly he cast his eye over the chests full of decayed, spoiled and ruined grave goods. Once he had selected the most solid looking chest he could carry he unceremoniously tipped it out and started hauling it back.
Rubani looked over his shoulders as Azghaad sped past him down the hallway.
Restrain one of them? Well, whatever works to incapacitate them as quickly as possible. These things are going to bite someone's toe off!
The cleric eyed the two icicles he had summoned into his hands. Seeing the wizard's silvery Magic Missile simply fizz out before reaching the serpent didn't fill him with confidence. But right now this was all he could do to stop them. He raised both hands, palms open. Vicious shards of ice hovered in front of them before the cleric commanded the projectiles to fly, one after the other.
Hit: This time the icicle hit the metal serpent dead on, the sheer cold of the missile causing the plating to crinkle and fold.
Miss: Rubani's icicle flew over the heads of the combatants and never even saw the snakes. It shattered harmlessly on the grave chamber's wall.
@Akhmose: Dice are fickle; you'll roll better soon. Iron Cobra, Scorpions, Iron Maiden... yeah I can see that. :)
@Azghaad: I'm Ok with one of you trying that. I'll roll some 'grapple' checks if anyone dares. Just let me know.
Game on!
I think it would be difficult to entangle a snake with a whip (even with the spell) so I would say no.
I think someone could try and grab and hold a snake (snake wrangler) but that would be a combat maneuver roll.
Game on!
"Keep going! I'm going to get a chest from the roach room! Maybe we can restrain one!"
Shalina paused. She hadn't considered trying to catch one of the cobras but it was an intriguing idea. She considered herself to be quick with her hands so it may even be possible. She moved forward towards the cobra that she hadn't melted with alchemist's fire. As she advanced, she studied the movement of the snake and when she saw her opening she reached out to snatch it by its neck.
Excellent turn!
Turn 038 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
ROUND 3
NAOMI SCYTHE
, miss
AKHMOSE MISS
AZGHAAD GETS CHEST/BOX
COBRA 1 AT AKHMOSE
, miss
COBRA 2 AT NAOMI
, hit
, yes
RUBANI ICICLE
, yes
SHALINA WRANGLE ATTEMPT
, miss
, miss
ROUND 4
NAOMI SCYTHE
, miss
AKHMOSE MISS
AZHGAAD AID SHALINA AT GRAPPLE
COBRA 1 AT AKHMOSE
, miss
COBRA 2 AT NAOMI
, miss
RUBANI ICICLE
, yes
SHALINA WRANGLE ATTEMPT
, miss
, CRITICAL!
Naomi laughed lightly, "Well, that worked better than I would have ever thought it would. Not sure exactly what we're going to do with it now, but I'm sure you have thoughts on a potential buyer. I'd just make sure they know what they're getting into before they get into the chest."
The warpriestess aids Rubani when it is time to open the sarcophagus itself. "So this is brave Akhentepi. The final discovery of our first site. Rubani? It troubles me to take his mask, but I am not sure we have a choice. Some other group will inevitably disturb it. What do you think of us leaving a symbol of the lady with him instead? I have one I would be willing to leave behind."
Azghaad, sat on the top of an ancient box with a VERY angry construct inside looked around with wide eyes.
"I can't believe that worked!" he shouted "That was incredible Shalina! We've managed to preserve a working example of exquisite construct craftsmanship!"
He looks around at the others, grinning like a lunatic.
"Uh... has anyone heard of a way to stop a guardian construct attacking?"
"And, uh, I'm a little worried it's going to get me through the lid... Can anyone see a way to keep it in here if I get off?" a worried tone started to creep into the wizard's tone as he realised the precariousness of his pressed posterior.
"So... this is it? Rubani, Naomi... I recognise that on matters like these you're... the most... invested. I'm prepared to let you decide. Shalina, Akhmose, did you want to weigh in?"
"Ha ha! Nicely done, both of you! That was fantastic. You know, if this whole 'tomb robbing' thing doesn't work out you should consider careers as professional snake charmers."
The natural euphoria of coming out of a fight alive and whole coupled with the unconventional conclusion to said fight put the cleric in a good mood. Seeing Azghaad sitting on top of the furiously shaking box also had a certain, cartoonish, comedic value.
"And, uh, I'm a little worried it's going to get me through the lid... Can anyone see a way to keep it in here if I get off?"
"Hm? Oh! Yes, sorry! Um... hang on, I might have something here."
Rubani set to digging through his large backpack and resurfaced with a rope. An oddly musky rope, that upon close inspection had the skins of several serpents woven into the fibers, but a rope nonetheless. After a few minutes work the case was wrapped up like an oddly spartan and foul tempered gift box. It looked like it would hold. But with the wizard joining the rest of the party on the cold hard floor of the catacomb, the cleric's attention was drawn back to their position. This was it; the tomb of Akhentepi, with the man himself laying before them.
"So this is brave Akhentepi. The final discovery of our first site. Rubani? It troubles me to take his mask, but I am not sure we have a choice. Some other group will inevitably disturb it. What do you think of us leaving a symbol of the lady with him instead? I have one I would be willing to leave behind."
"What do I think? I think that wound of yours needs some attention. The great Akhentepi has lain here for thousands of years. He can wait a minute."
The half-elf could not quite hide the sour tone in his voice as he ignored the warrior's mummified remains and tended to Naomi's considerably more coetaneous flesh.
It felt odd being disappointed in someone who had already been dead for thousands of years, and yet that was the case. Rubani had always greatly admired the long gone Ancient Osirions and their way of life. Or what he had thought was their way of life. He had expected to find barbarism and crudity among the tomb robbers, not among the tomb occupants. Death traps to protect valuables? Killing the builders of the tomb to protect said traps? The cleric found that he was not exactly an admirer of this man whose grave and memory he had come here to protect. He scowled at Akhentepi's gold funerary mask.
And then his features softened. After all, it didn't matter what he thought about Akhentepi the man, he reminded himself. How he felt about anyone at all was irrelevant to his vocation as a Pharasmin priest. Pharasma, the Lady of Graves, was famed for her neutrality. It was a neutrality born of necessity. She served every soul in the multiverse, completely without bias or favoritism. So too should her servants treat all with fairness. Her neutrality was to be emulated. Akhentepi was long gone. His soul reached his rightful reward thousands of years ago. To scorn his miserable mortal remains was ludicrous.
"Yes. Yes, Miss Zeitoun, you are right. We will have to take the mask, however distasteful that may be. The church is expecting us to do so, and should we return without such a predictable relic others will delve down here to find it. And they may not have our gentle touch. No, with the lottery being what it is the only way to ensure the sanctity of this tomb is to strip it of valuables."
"And yes, I think leaving an inexpensive holy symbol behind would be a very nice gesture," the cleric smiled to her.
The two Pharasmins spent the next minutes carefully maneuvering Akhentepi's corpse as they removed his mask. They aimed to disturb the remains as little as possible, and the whole process was accompanied throughout by a low chanting prayer from Rubani.
Akhmose gave an amazed smile as Shalina wrangled the snake in the box. As Rubani went about wrapping the box, he studied it with an engineer's eye and tried to help him secure it. "I don't know what we plan to do with that, but it would make a good surprise if we happen to make any enemies!" he said craftily.
Akhmose was hesitant to disturb the sarcophagus, but he pondered the poor fate of the slaves who died. He just nodded to Rubani's plan. He looked at the armor admiringly. "I wonder what this does?"
It's a +1, staunching scale mail, made with shimmering, hardened scales from local crocodiles.