"Ai'sha, we're attacking that thing," Irakelesh points at the snake. "I don't know if you were swing at flies or something else, but maybe you can help us out. If you're done playing around, that is." The tall Keleshite grins at his friend, knowing that his comments are just going to make her blood boil.
Several hits are landed, but only Fitliss does enough damage to get through the creature's tough scales.
Selassie steps up to bat, and swings at the creature once more.
She misses once more.
The snake continues its relentless assault on Aliva.
It is unable to bite her.
Round 5
Aliva 8/15 hp
Cobra 7/15 hp
Irakelesh 16/16 hp
Fitliss 12/16 hp
Ai'sha 16/17 hp
Selassie 11/13 hp
G'nock 20/22 hp
Round 6
Aliva
Cobra
Irakelesh
Fitliss
Ai'sha
Selassie
G'nock
"Stupid beast, just flee and we can leave."
Aliva really leans in to her swing to end this faster.
"Well that fancy arrow didn't seem to do any more damage than a normal one. I'm saving them for something else." Irakelesh pulls a normal arrow from his quiver and draws back the long bow. He takes careful aim at the snake.
Alive delivers a crushing blow to the iron cobra, leaving a huge dent in its hooded head.
Fitliss let's out a whoop of victory as his spear thrust pierces the construct's hide. "Did you guys see that?! I hurt it!"
Fitliss strikes the snake, again not hitting hard enough to damage it, but G'nock quickly follows with an arrow that pierces straight through one of the snake's eyes. It crumples to the floor with a loud CLUNK, and the battle is over.
There are, as expected, a number of valuables in this chamber, which is seemingly the burial chamber of Akhentepi (and the last room in this dungeon).
Irakelesh and G'nock have a pretty good sense of the value of most of the items, but Ai'sha knows with surety the exact price of everything here.
The gold leaf decorating the sarcophagus is worth a total of 150 gp, if enough time is spent to salvage all of it. Inside the sarcophagus, Akhentepi's mummified corpse wears an exquisitely crafted gold funerary mask worth 750 gp. One of the chests contains Akhentepi's armor, the magic suit of leather armor he wore in life. The other chest holds a disintegrating cloth sack filled with 500 gp, as well as a well-preserved darkwood coffer worth 300 gp. Inside the coffer is a potion of darkvision, two potions of lesser restoration, an ornate lapis and carnelian pendant worth 105 gp, and an assortment of carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise semiprecious stones worth a total of 75 gp.
"Congratulations, everyone! I think we're done with this tomb!", Ai'sha takes her time appraising every item the group founds. "Hm, i think we can make a lot of gold with what we found here, hopefully the church's coffers still have some gold in them."
"Yeah, this is all pretty nice." Irakelesh holds up the leather armor. "Do you think this would fit? Is it magical? Cause if it is, I might want to wear this. As for the other stuff here, we should keep the potions but let's try to sell the gems. And what about the stuff in the other room?"
"Hey, that's it, right? Ooh, did you say that was Akhentepi's armor? I think I heard a story or two about that..." Fitliss switches combats abruptly, before sitting on top of the sarcophagus and pondering.
"This was a much more trying ordeal than I had thought. I am glad to have you all with me as I fear that we couldn't not have done this alone. So no we take our spoils and return to the Tavern?"
Aliva will help carry back whatever she can.
"Although i'm quite tired like you all, we should probably find a way to sell what we found and prepare ourselves for tomorrow before resting...So lets start moving back."
Fitliss launches into a long story that involves the armor being a gift from Rovagug to Shelyn, who in turn gave it to Akhentepi's sister. The whole story is obviously nonsense, but he insists it is true, and everyone has to suffer through it the whole way back to the Tooth and Hookah.
Aliva shoulders her share of the weight to carry back, once they get back to the Tooth and Hookah she addresses the group.
"I think this should be done in private since I get the feeling that Fits has already found people who want to take our findings from us. Who's room shall we use?"
"Fits? Do you mean our Fitliss?" Irakelesh glances at the gnome trying to see if he is in fact being shady.
Fitliss looks around brightly, never pausing in the telling of his ridiculous story.
Fitliss shrugs, pausing in his story for a moment. "They looked like humans, why?"
"People may want to steal our items, we need to just be weary. Milani will defend us but only if we help defend ourselves."
Aliva will head up to her room and take stock of what they have.
Slot armor; CL 7th; Price 5,235 gp ; Weight 10 lbs.
Aura Moderate transmutation
DESCRIPTION
This suit of +1 stanching padded armor is of traditional Osirian design, consisting of a quilted cuirass of lightweight, breathable linen; a linen kilt; and a teardrop-shaped groin guard of stiffened leather. Besides its anti-bleeding properties, Akhentepi's Armor grants its wearer a sense of impending danger. Once per day as a free action when the wearer attempts an initiative check, the wearer can add a +3 insight bonus on that initiative check.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, anticipate peril, stabilize, cure critical wounds, or lesser restoration; Price 2,695 gp
Pharasma's Seekers return to the Living City of Wati without incident, and make their way back to the Tooth and Hookah. Farhaan happily greets them, though he seems to be in an awful hurry in some preparations he is making.
"The Tooth and Hookah will do good business tonight. I've heard that most of the adventuring groups competing in the Lottery are all coming here tonight, to discuss their findings and brag about their successes. It should be a busy night, but a profitable one."
"Guess we'll have to be ready for that, i'm sure they'll be impressed when you guys them how i destroyed that sarcophagus and saved Selassie's life all by myself!"
After they go upstairs.
"You using this armor, Irakelesh? I think it would be too expensive for us to able to sell it, much like the shield we found earlier...Other than that, be selling everything else we found in that last room i think we can get about 1380 gp...Then there is also that other stuff from that room after the bugs, i guess Irakelesh can keep this mirror since he likes it so much, and Selassie should probably have the holy symbol. Then there is the bow, and these things i don't know the value of..."
Irakelesh holds up the suit of armor. "You know, this is really nice. But it looks like it's not quite as much protection as what I currently have. It does have some nice magic in it though. Does someone else want it?"
Irakelesh waits for someone else to claim the armor.
"Oh, I would like to keep that longbow though. And, as Fitliss said, we should keep the special arrows. And the potions. But we should sell the rest." He smiles at Ai'sha. "I think I'll be able to part with the mirror. But just this once."
Aliva holds up the Scarab shield, 'I got what I need, so we find a fence or a collector to take these off our hands and split the income?"
She takes a drink from her water skin, and rubs her stomach.
"I also think that food and drink are in order."
"A fence? I heard about someone people were calling a fence, what does that mean?"
"Someone who will helps us sell our goods, they take a cut though. It will allow us to explore and they sell things as we exploring."
"We can try the church again before searching for a collector. If Irakelesh don't want the armor i guess i'll have it for now."
"Well, this armor will protect someone from bleeding and it can also give you a step ahead of the opponents in battle. Maybe that last thing can only happen once a day or so. But in any case I think it is best used by someone who is better than me in combat."
He looks at Ai'sha. "If you want it, I think it would suit you just fine. And I also agree with you, let's try the church with this stuff first. Don't we have a credit there?"
"I can give you the armor i'm currently using, if you want it, i just got it from the markets, it is a little stronger than yours, also a little heavier, although i won't think it would make you more clumsier than you already are." , she jokes, searching for a private room and changing into Ankhetepi's armor; Ai'sha also puts the the lapis and carnelian pendant around her neck and takes the gold scarab clasp. "Deduct those from my share of the treasure. Gotta look good when we go brag to the other adventurers, don't i?"
"You know what? That sounds good. Here you can take this." Irakelesh hands Ai'sha Anketepi's armor. When she comes back from changing Irakelesh changes out of his hide shirt and puts on the llamellar leather. "Yeah, this feels good. And I don't think I was ever clumsy. Don't know what your talking about." Irakelesh looks only a little bit guilty as he remembers some of the many times that he has dropped and broken things. "So first I was wearing a scarf from you," he points to the scarf still wrapped around his forehead, "and now your armor. I hope this clothing swapping thing doesn't continue."
Irakelesh flops down onto a bench, his long legs barely fitting under the low table, and he smiles at his comrades. "We've been having fun so far. And I can tell you, I'm still quite excited to dive into the tombs. There's so much history just hiding there." He turns to try and wave down a serving girl but he's not sure he caught her attention. "Don't you just wonder, while walking over the sand, how many things are lying buried below your feet? Sometimes it makes my feel tingle just thinking about it."
Aniva will sit down as well, taking her armor off before doing so.
"Yes there is lots of history, even more odd traps and enemies as well. I am most curious about the designs and such of this place."
"Ha! I laugh in the face of traps and enemies!" Irakelesh jumps from the bench with a flourish. Ai'sha's scarf is still tied around his forehead and he flips the long ends of the scarf back over his shoulder. After striking a pose he sits back down. "It is really exciting. I can't wait to get back." He looks intently at Aliva, the excitement unmistakable.
"you are a rather interesting extravagant man, we have people of your character in Taldor but they tend to be court fools are are seeking higher positions with in the court. No insult intended, I do appreciate the humor that you have."
Aniva will smile after saying her piece.
"Oh, he was some kind of a court fool once, just don't ask about it or he'll tell you more than you'd ever want to know!", Ai'sha jokes. "So you come from Taldor? How is it?"
"A court fool!" Irakelesh reacts in mock anger. "I was not limited to the court. But the reality of it is I just couldn't stand all of the formal court life. Someone had to do something to make it more fun."
Irakelesh props his chin in his hand, elbow on the table, and he looks at Aliva. "Yes, tell us. How is Taldor?"
After you are settled in, a knock at your door draws your attention. A server informs you that there the other explorer teams have arrived, and there are specials on food and drink all night to celebrate the successful forays into the old sections of Wati.
When you arrive in the common room, you see five other groups of explorers. Most of them appear to be speaking with one another, sharing drinks, and generally enjoying the company of like-minded individuals who are not currently competitors. The socializing groups include a party of women led by a tall pale northerner with fiery red hair, a table of halflings whose feet rest on a pack of dogs dozing beneath their benches, a mixed unit including a man in plate mail, but apparently led by another man wearing a large rimmed hat with plumage common to the bravos of Absalom, and finally, a group that bears many sigils and inscriptions of Nethys. To the left, one group is forgoing the fraternizing. Five people in hoods and cloaks sit around a table, with a bare-chested man who has a scimitar slung over his back sits across the bench, eyes closed, with his head and back resting against the wall. At the head of the table is a half-elven woman woman whose mouth is slightly twisted into a grimace – she sips a glass of wine as her eyes slowly scan the room.
Aliva takes stock of all those in the room, approaching the bar and ordering a glass of wine. After that she will find a table to sit at and await the rest of the group, greeting them as they do come in.
"We should rest tonight, enjoy ourselves since we are going in again on the morrow."
Ai'sha descends the stairs with her head up, her walk full of swagger. She takes a moment to look at the other adventuring groups, and as her eyes meet those of the half-elven woman she immediately walks towards her.
"So, how did business go today? How did it go inside...Sorry, what tomb were you assigned to, again?", she asks, in a friendly but cocky tone.
The half-elf looks at Ai'sha and frowns. She starts to open her mouth, pauses, and her shoulders visibly sag. "Business went terrible, truth speak. We entered a shop of perfume and incense - but such products find it hard to survive thousands of years inside small glass vials when said small glass vials are shattered."
One of the hooded men nearest her grunts, "And don't forget the ghouls."
She sips her wine again and stares down into her cup, "No, we shouldn't forget the ghouls. Lucky for all of us to still be here."
Forcing a smile, she looks up, "But enough, I am known as the Black Kiss. Who might you be, and how fared your day?"
Fitliss seems determined to talk to the whole tavern, limping between tables and generally trying to make friends with everyone. He completely ignores social boundaries, often pulling people from nearby groups into conversations, and generally seems to not notice the distinctions between the various groups arrayed throughout the tavern.
"Oh, I...apologize. My name is Ai'sha, we had our share of dangers when exploring Ankhetepi's tomb, two of our companions gave up on exploring the tombs after being close to death, but the rest of us had luck and skill enough to succeed.", she smiles. "I happen to have some training in the healing arts, is any of you still wounded by your exploration? If not, maybe I could get you a drink for your time?"
Fitless dives into conversation, almost seeming to engage everybody at the same time. Most of his targets respond favorably, toasting the gnome and generally getting louder and more rowdy as Fitless meanders through the crowd.
At one point, he finds the hand of a female human on his shoulder, "Velriana Hypaxes, of the Scorched Hand, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. So tell me of your excursion today - notice anything that might interest our patron? Specifically, we're looking for a temple or shrine called The Erudite Eye - know anything about it?" she says while gesturing to the symbol of Nethys around her neck.
Some of the other general information you learn:
* The Cryptfinders fought and defeated a mummy in their tomb.
* The Dog Soldiers discovered a magic weapon they are interested in selling since it's made for a human, not a halfling.
* The leader of the Daughters is a bard who wants as much information as possible about all the explorations for a song she is writing.
-----
Black Kiss waives away Ai'sha's offer. "No, no, we're fine." she says a bit more curtly than expected. "We can take care of ourselves... thanks though." she says almost as an afterthought.
She shifts in her seat and begins speaking quietly with one of her fellow Sand Scorpions, pointedly turning away from Ai'sha.