Maurice grins. "I'm not a weapon guy. I just slam into things. But at least you can say I'm persistent and stick to a fight!"
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I'm going to assume now that as a party, you decide to press onwards and not rock the boats.
After a short hallway, you come to another door.
You come to a sparse room with bare sandstone walls and floor, devoid of any decorations or furnishings.
Four burning skeletons and a four-armed skeleton covered in dripping blood are there to greet you. The burning ones are armed with nasty flaming claws. The four-armed skeleton is armed with four short swords.
While the burning skeletons to the south are finishing their cigarettes, the bloody four armed guy runs straight up to Crowe, so only one of his four short swords attacks.
The burning skeletons to the North run up to Jan, and claw him each once.
They all miss, and now it's the party's turn!
Jan, Oloch and Crowe are all up!
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Quinn, as usual, knows everything and shares it all with you.
Jan smashes into the Bloody Mudra skeleton, and obliterates it. Four short swords clatter into the bloody puddle that is left of it.
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Maurice grins. "I'm not a weapon guy. I just slam into things. But at least you can say I'm persistent and stick to a fight!"
Oloch cannot help a grin at the mimic, still amazed at the fact that the creature accompanies them - "Have you ever tried a sword? I'm thinking it wouldn't be easy to disarm you"
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As the skeletons plod forward, Oloch does the same - his greatsword out and ready he passes by the crumpled skeleton to attack the flaming ones on the left.
Despite using a non-bludgeoning weapon, the force of Oloch's blow smashes another skeleton. These poor, sad harem guards.
Crowe is still up...
Oloch cannot help a grin at the mimic, still amazed at the fact that the creature accompanies them - "Have you ever tried a sword? I'm thinking it wouldn't be easy to disarm you"
Maurice gives a dubious look to the swords laying in the bloody pool. "Um... no thanks."
Crowe steps on his left and attacks the bloody skeleton in front of him.
for
Crowe pulverizes another burning skeleton. These harem guards are having a bad day!
The remaining southern burning skeleton finishes up his smoking break and claws at Oloch with two flaming claws.
Ooh, burn! The hot-headed skeleton misses Oloch both times!
Wadi, Quinn and Archon are all up!
Quinn, realizing how little he can do to these skeletons, takes a five foot step back.
The northern skeleton attacks Jan with two flaming claws.
Both miss. The harem guard stares at his claws, wondering if he needs a manicure.
Archon, Jan, Oloch and Crowe, you're up!
And the northern burning skeleton gets smoked!
Crowe and Oloch, you're up and there's one poor skeleton left.
And Oloch extinguishes the last of the burning skeletons!
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Wadi nods in reply, "Yes, I believe so. However I do not believe this harem is interested in the...ahhh...physical pleasures any more. If you wish that, then a trip to the Malhitu Bazaar is called for!" He gives the half orc a wink.
Once the party is ready to proceed, he holds up his Wayfinder. "I am ready when you are."
As you proceed westwards, you notice the door in front of you open. "Well, are you coming to visit us or not?" The voice is young, feminine and confident, but it is accompanied by giggles.
You glance at each other warily, weapons ready for whatever might be on the other side.
Sumptuous hanging silks, plush cushions, and patterned rugs decorate the hallway leading to this luxurious chamber . A cool breeze bearing the mingled scent of lotus flowers and perfume wafts through the room. The distant notes of a lively tune plucked out on a lyre are accompanied by the sounds of trickling water, birdsong, and feminine laughter.
Two beautiful women in near transparent linen dresses smile as you enter. One of them, a girl of maybe nineteen or twenty, greets you with a platter of fruit. "Oh come in, brave warriors! I'm Bastetabi."
"And I am Senetka," says the other, an older girl of perhaps twenty-five, still playing her lyre. "We're so pleased to see you, our guests! Do you know how boring it is all day, seeing nothing but each other and those dreadful skeletons? They set fire to everything, got blood on our furniture and never let us go anywhere!" Senetka pouts a moment. "But you're here now! Tell us about yourselves. We can play games, and you can tell us of your travels. It'll be such fun!"
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An uneasy feeling slides over Wadi's spine as he lays eyes on the beautiful ladies, resolutely ignoring the stirrings of his body.
I believe I owe Oloch an apology here....but why is it I feel like I am back at the Paracountesses' manor again? These 'ladies' obviously are not who they appear to be yet they must know more of the Pharaoh. I just hope Maurice does not do anything foolish here.
Wadi smiles at the two beautiful ladies and bows deeply before them. "A pleasure, and it be all mine! I am Wadi, simple traveler here among my friends who wish nothing more than to learn more of your Pharaoh!" As he rises from his bow his eyes flick from first one lovely face to the other (and avoiding lingering on their bodies...barely) trying to read their body language. Unfortunately the long days and nights apart from any female companionship have apparently taken their toll here.
"Welcome, Wadi!" Senetka laughs. "You wish to know of our Pharoah? That is perfect!" She claps. "We are Sekh-pa-Mefr's wives. What would you like to know?"
Bastetabi lays down the tray of fruit on a table. "Come in, have a seat!" She gestures welcomingly to the rest of you with a graceful, bracelet-clad arm. There are soft-looking divans and pillows scattered across the floor. "May I get you anything? Would you like me to dance for you?"
"You like to dance?" Bastetabi's eyes light up as she speaks to Jan. Then she glances slyly at Oloch, who towers above her. "I should have known when you brought your own drummer!"
Senetka smiles indulgently at her sister, and then returns her dark gaze to all of you. "You said you have questions?"
Senetka looks sad. "What is wrong with a placid lake of peace? Moments of peace are precious, and undervalued. Our lord and husband, like many men, was obsessed with war and glory, but always relished the calm and joy we could provide when he came home..." She glances off longingly to a bit of drapery along a side wall. "It's been so long since we've seen him, or anyone."
She gets up, leaving her lyre behind, and takes a drink and eats a piece of fig from the platter of fruit. "We are both so lonely. Will you not accept our hospitality for a while and become guests that we can protect and honor?"
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Wadi watches every movement of the lovely ladies as he feels an attraction to both of them. By the gods, I thought I was stronger than this! Trying to maintain control of himself he picks up a piece of fruit and holds it in his hand, but does not eat it. "Both of you are lonely? Does your husband not visit you anymore? I would think he would treasure the moments of peace he could spend with you. Being a student of history any information you can provide of him would be most treasured. We know so little of the actual Pharaohs who ruled Old Osirion and even less of the Pharaoh of Sphinxes."
"Ruled? Is there not a Pharoah ruling still?" Senetka looks alarmed, and then intrigued. She comes over to Wadi, and strokes his singed hair. "I'm curious. Why do you not shave your pretty head? It would show off your noble brow." Then she looks sad again. "Once we had gardens, and servants, and many admirers... We would take pleasure trips in a pavilion covered boat on the mighty Sphinx. We had a palace that was a marvel, built by Rahotep himself and --"
She breaks off in a shriek. "What's THAT?" One elegant finger is pointing to Maurice, who had extended a tentacle to poke at her furniture.
Really embarrassed, Crowe stands still and mute. He can't think properly both because of the lack of coherence between beautiful ladies staying in tomb. He drools a little bit but gathers his thoughts to answer calmly the girl: "That's Momo, he's our friend." he sates casually.
"Ladies, I'm Archon. Did you say Rahotep? Who was he?"
"Rahotep? Our court architect. Very clever. He built our palace, and then this tomb." Senetka's answer is distracted, as she continues to back away from Maurice, not at all reassured by Crowe's answer.
"Momo?" Bastetabi, a bit bolder than her sister, leans down to look at Maurice. "I've never seen anything like it before. What is it?"
Maurice opens his wide mouth and yells, causing both women to jump. "I'm a mimic. As for never seeing anything like me, right back at you. What the heck are you?"
Quinn chuckles
"Excuse our loud friend, but he quite the fun character to be around. Maurice, let me tell you a story..."
Quinn begin to describe and tell a tale of woe and wonder to keep their mimic friend entertained
Crowe frowns, which looks like it's the way he makes visible that he's reflecting. Eventually, he says:
"Hey, Momo's right! What are you? I may be slow-witted but I ain't no fool. Are a man or a mouse?"
"I am neither a man nor a mouse," Senetka says through gritted teeth. She then remembers her audience and smiles, belatedly.
"I'll say!" Distracted once again from Quinn's story, Maurice waves his tentacles in agitation. "Mice are tasty. So are men! Guys, let me put it this way. Even if Blast Boy buttered her up, I wouldn't be licking."
What do you do?
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-Posted with Wayfinder
Having pierced the veil, Quinn knows exactly what Senetka and Bastetabi are. However, he's too much of a gentleman to comment on a lady's age or appearance since their two hosts have been nothing but gracious so far.
"Of course you aren't, my lady." He gives Senetka another gracious bow.
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Wadi waits until Maurice distracts the two ladies before carefully seting the fruit down trying to keep the smile on his face. "Ohhh, I would not say these lovely ladies are showing their age at all, not in the slightest! Certainly, they have demonstrated how enchanting they are!"
Wadi's secret message's bluff score was so high that neither lady is able to intercept and decode it. They preen under his compliment. Meanwhile, everyone on the team can read Wadi's secret message.
What do you do?
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"Look" - Oloch's voice starts to rise - "Maurice here is one thing" - he comments without hesitation - "But am I the only one here who understands we are talking with two unliving creatures?!"
He turns to the women, and adds in a commanding tone - "Show your true selves immediately, or your existence will be forfeit!" - the half orc orders, pointing his sword at them - "This is your final, and only warning"
Senetka and Bastetabi grab each other, both looking profoundly shocked. For a moment, they look small, defenseless and shaken.
"I had hoped that we all may be friends," she says in a voice laden with sorrow. "Our lord husband walled us in this room of stone, and abandoned us for a thousand years. All we wanted was love and companionship. Would a few minutes of gentle conversation have been too much to ask?"
Then she looks at you and drops the veil. You all see them both, half rotted, still in their fine linen gowns and jewelry. And then in a voice much rougher than her former sweet tones, she says, "Here I am, this horror, this half-rotted thing! Can you blame me for wanting something more, something better? If we cannot be loved, then let us be feared!"
Both girls come forward, preparing to attack.
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Archon takes a five foot step to the side, readying his spear for when they come.
Bastetabi charges Oloch. "Know now the power of a woman's scorn!"
And she hits him soundly, putting in all her rage at the man who tore apart the fantasy that had consoled them both.
Quinn, Wadi, Crowe and Oloch are all up!
Jan hits Senetka solidly, but does not do as much damage with his shield as normal.
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Wadi sighs sadly to himself. Though I knew this must end in bloodshed I cannot help but feel regret here...We did invade their home and destroyed their hopes. I hope they find it in their souls to forgive us...
He immediately calls on a protective spell to help shield himself from the undead lady's attacks.