After the thing stands, Husarq strikes again!
And Ptah tries to block Husarq's blow - which he surprisingly does!
48 damage taken
Farg and Motaz still to go.
Somehow the light is yellow which shines on the emerald sage.
In the end Farg has no problems bringing Ptah down.
With the guardians out of the way you can easily able to determine the appropriate configuration of lamps through trial and error. Frazzled by his recent imprisonment, Amenopheus apologizes for not fully understanding what happened and why, but he recommends continuing on before more of the sanctum’s guardians decide to attack. You can push open the newly bisected crystalline door with ease. As you do so, the statues animate for a moment to pass the lamps back to their starting positions, resetting the puzzle for the next visitor.
You also find an air elemental gem and a fire elemental gem.
A broad, simple, flat-topped column of sandstone rises from a deep pit in this circular, domed chamber with a white tiled floor. Though no wind can be felt, particles of sand slowly blow around the pit as if circulated by a lazy breeze, their movement creating a soft, rasping susurrus. She greets Amenopheus and you, proclaiming, “Welcome home,” with a warm smile. She introduces herself as the Diamond Sage and acknowledges your accomplishments . Nefti and Kafar give her chagrined looks.
Turning to Amenopheus "I have been following your endeavors over the past decade, and only recently I have chosen to emerge from obscurity to contact you.”
Here Garundi woman
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"It is a pleasure to have been able to help you" he bows
His scorpion friend tries to do this same, but a bit more awekwardly, clicking as response
-Posted with Wayfinder
Amenopheus is cordial but cautious as he questions the Diamond Sage’s decision to remain hidden for so long, and he speculates how much more they might have accomplished in recent years had they met sooner. He voices his desire to rebuild the Jeweled Sages—a goal that he and Tahonikepsu share; however, despite this common ground, the two disagree on many nuances.
First, they disagree about the true cause of the Jeweled Sages’ destruction, which evolves into a disagreement about the lost order’s hierarchy. Amenopheus interprets the collapse of the Jeweled Sages as an unfortunate accident driven by outside forces, namely the invasion of Osirion by the Kelish thousands of years ago. Had it not been for this calamity, the Jeweled Sages would have continued to thrive. To Tahonikepsu, the invasion and subsequent purge of the Jeweled Sages reflects a critical weakness in the organization. She posits that, spread out and without a strong leader, the order could not respond quickly and effectively to a new threat. Amenopheus defends the order’s egalitarian organization structure as a key source of strength, allowing each member to act independently when needed. The Diamond Sage retorts that without consistent, decisive leadership, the Jeweled Sages will always be vulnerable and disorganized whenever a new threat strikes.
Second, the two sages disagree on how to rebuild the organization. Both accept that they will need to recover additional sage jewels and recruit new prospective sages. Amenopheus believes that the next generation of sages must be chosen from among the most learned scholars. Not only does this match the founding principles of the organization, but he theorizes that anything less than a well-trained mind would be unable to harness the millennia of memories within each sage jewel. To Tahonikepsu, the thought of populating the Jeweled Sages with cloistered academics might allow for easier retention of historic facts but would undermine the sages’ ability to actually use their knowledge to better the world. The Diamond Sage would rather recruit a generation of active and innovative sages who could act as advisors to powerful leaders, read the current events to predict future decisions, and participate in making history rather than simply recording it.
Finally, both sages have their doubts about each other, no matter how politely they engage in the discourse. From Tahonikepsu’s perspective, despite the Sapphire Sage’s talents, he has lost the trust of Osirion’s ruler. Although his failure is not wholly his fault, the incident may become a liability as the Jeweled Sages attempt to reclaim their place in Osirion. She also believes that Amenopheus’s insistence on embracing a failed model for the Jeweled Sages invites history to repeat itself. On the other hand, Amenopheus is skeptical about Tahonikepsu, for only moments ago she was a complete stranger to him and the Pathfinders. He has served faithfully as the Osirion faction leader for years. Ceding leadership of the restored Jeweled Sages to her seems like an irresponsible gambit, particularly when nobody knows of her qualifications, background, or motives.
In summary, Amenopheus wishes to recreate the Jeweled Sages as they were in ages past, whereas Tahonikepsu seeks innovation. Seeing that they have reached an impasse, Amenopheus invokes a Convocation of Sages, an old tradition of the sages to decide the organization’s future with a vote. Each Jeweled Sage receives one vote, though because you represent the Ruby Sage as a group, each of them receives a fraction of her vote. Understandably, Amenopheus and Tahonikepsu cast their votes in favor of their own policies.
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Motaz votes for Amenopheus' plan. He suggests rehabilitating Kafar and Nefti as Pathfinders, once they are cured of the death worms. The two haven't broken any laws, so far as he knows, so the authorities are probably just going to let them go. Plus, there are no authorities out here in the middle of the desert to turn them over to, so doing that means hauling them back to Eto anyway. The Pathfinders may as well try to rehabilitate them during the trip.
If you want to make them Pathfinders, I need a diplomacy check - with a +10 due to healing them - and if you take them with you if you succeed.
One roll to convince Kafar, one for Nefti.
That's sufficient - so you have two brand new Pathfinders - unless you hand them over to the authorities or the Aspis consortium. I leave this up to you (but need to know).
With this change I need your votes:
Bring them into Pathfinder lodge
Hand them over to the authorities
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Mareq stands and watches the back and forth between the two Sages. Tahonikepsu speaks well, but as if from a line of nobility long accustomed to the divine right of kings, or that of somebody with incredible physical might used to getting their way by threat of violence.
Amenopheus, on the other hand, seems to be the rational, conservative faction leader of yore. His words argue for continuity and lore, rather than precipitous action. And, of extreme importance to Mareq, his behavior, while that of a leader accustomed to leading, seems to suggest a more democratic perspective.
The diplomat watches diplomacy in action, as the war of words progresses.
But, in the end, Mareq cannot help but recall the years he spent on the Plane of Fire, being raised in the court of Beyt Shamir, under the thumb of his aristocratic and tyrannical father and subject to the whims of his more powerful brethren.
He recalls the humiliation of each birthday, each fiery torture by nearly any and every other member of the court. His eyes, without thought or volition, look at his arms where the scars of his upbringing remain. At the same time, he notices his thrall, Husarq al-Shamiri stepping forward towards the Diamond Sage, as if to agree with her.
"Husarq, mind yourself and remain in your place, thrall!"
The Grand Vizier would spit his pomegranate juice upon the floor if he learned his ambassador was going to say this...
"I agree with Lord Amenopheus in this case. Certainly your words, Lady, have merit and must be accommodated in whatever plan is put in place by your august group, but I must say that deliberative action and an adherence to the past traditions of Council of Jeweled Sages, should be a starting point."
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"If they're going to rob tombs, they may as well do it for the Society, rather than for the Aspis Consortium! Turning them in, if the authorities would even take them, would merely alert the Ruby Prince to the Sapphire Sage's activities. He may not want that attention while he and the Diamond Sage are trying to rebuild the Sages' organization."
Kafar and Nefti look up, "what? I think we decline!"
Alright, full xp, full gold, , full PA, I leave everything open, you can put it in, certs coming soon
Chronicle
Fill the rest by yourself and if you have a dayjob, just throw it in. I guess a good way to use your mythic surges?