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In the depths of the Osirian desert, a sandstorm has recently uncovered a mighty pyramid that was buried beneath the sand for ages. Lost for centuries, the pyramid has not yet revealed its secrets, but one crumbling papyrus scroll found in the Great Library of Tephu contains references to the tomb of an ancient Osirian king known only as the Pharaoh of Sphinxes. Word of the pyramid’s discovery has spread far and fast. Archaeologists,
explorers, and tomb robbers from across the Inner Sea are gathering in Osirion’s taverns and inns to plan expeditions into the desert, each vying to be the first to plunder the tomb’s treasures.
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Unfamiliar with the struggling heat, Marcus changes into a more heat hospitable outfit. Even with the lighter clothing he doesn’t look comfortable. After considering the distance and travel time of the adventure, he turns to the rest of the group and suggests. I think we should gather more food and supplies. This is probably going to be a round trip of two weeks. I don’t know what kind of mounts would be best in this area, but I think we should consider something other than walking. Sweat streams from the large man’s face as he shifts uncomfortably in his armor.
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A tall, muscular Garundi man, dressed in full plate despite the heat, the helm of which is sculpted to look like a hawk's head, wearing a tabard depicting a stylised representation of an eye, and with a massive, curved blade strapped across his back, gravely nods.
"Camels would probably be best. Also, if you think that it will take two weeks, take supplies for four. The desert is filled with the dessicated remains of those that underestimated it..."
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Marcus looks confused about the camel. What is a camel? Do we each need to buy one of these things? He looks dissatisfied about having to trapes across the god forsaken dessert, on an animal he knows nothing about.
After taking stock of his rations, Marcus decides to buy 14 more days of food. After paying the cost of seven gold, he slides the fourteen pounds of food into his backpack.
Marcus points at the animal feed everyone is buying. Is that what they eat? He decides it’s best to follow suit, so he also buys eight days of animal feed, and two sack to put the eighty pounds of feed in. That’s a lot of food. What exactly is a camel and where do we get one?
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"Come, Effendi, I will show you where you can purchase a Ship of the Desert. The travel well on sand, much better than horses! They are well adapted to the desert climate, requiring relatively little feed, and having the ability to go long periods without water. Truly, the camel is a noble beast..."
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Satisfied someone seems to know where to buy a mount, Marcus ties the two large bags of feed together. With a huff he lifts the bags over his shoulder. After wiping the sweat from his face, he follows Horus to the merchant.
Marcus examines one of the camels, then looks back at Horus, then looks back at the camel, then once again looks back at Horus. This is one ugly, misshapen, best. After walking around the creature a couple times, Marcus points at the camel’s back. How do you get up there? With a sigh, Marcus turns and walks over to the merchant. Trying to negotiate a fair price for the sand mule, Marcus tries to muster the proper etiquette. How much are you asking for one of these ships of the dessert?
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Other than the blazing heat, your journey is relatively uneventful. About noon on your fifth day of travel you finally arrive at the pyramid.
An incredible man-made mountain, the pyramid rises out of the desert sands, a relic of an earlier age. Its limestone casing blocks are weathered from millennia of scouring sands, but the structure seems solid and intact. A stone wall, buttressed by drifts of sand, surrounds the entire structure. To the east stands a squat stone building,connected to the pyramid by a long, covered causeway. No visible entrances to the pyramid’s interior can be seen.
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Anyone that has survival and can make a DC 15 can add an additional +2 to their roll. They can grant the same bonus to one character for every 1 point that the check result exceeds 15.
If not then, by the time you reach the pyramid, some of the nonlethal damage should be healed by resting and such. Nonlethal damage heals at the rate of 1 hit point per hour per character level.
A rectangular building constructed of large stone blocks sits on the desert sands to the east of the pyramid. A wide portico opens to the east, its ceiling supported by two rows of red granite columns. A dark passage leads deeper into the temple to the west. The sunlight provides normal light.
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After virtually five days of weathering the unfamiliar sun of the desert, Marcus begins to look more worn than normal. He has contracted a number of blisters on his face, and forehead. Over the last two days, he has been obviously slurring his words.
Water being plentifully supplied by his god, Marcus has managed to keep everyone’s thirst quenched. Even with an endless supply of water, Marcus has succumb to heat exhaustion. Whispering to Gorum, Marcus ask the god of battle for reprieve, in order to be fit for combat, which is obviously awaiting.
Gorum, fjerne min byrde
Marcuse’s blisters begin to fade.
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Forgot this bit... The sunlight outside the portico provides normal light
in this chamber. The portico walls were once carved in relief, but millennia of exposure to windblown sand has worn the carvings away. A successful DC 5 Perception check reveals the existence of these worn carvings, though there is not enough detail remaining to decipher
what they once depicted.
You see nothing her ein the outer temple other than the reliefs, so you make your way into the Great Hall. Sunlight from the eastern doorway provides only dim light in this chamber.
A pair of carved and brightly painted granite columns support the ceiling of this darkened, roughly triangular chamber. To the east, stone statues of a regal man holding a crook and flail and wearing a striped cloth headdress stand on either side of the chamber, though the head of one of the two statues now lies cracked and broken on the alabaster floor. Two more stone statues depicting winged creatures with leonine bodies and falcons’ heads sit beyond. The smooth granite walls are decorated with hieroglyphs and faded murals that depict loyal subjects and slaves presenting offerings to a pharaoh who sits on a gilded throne, flanked by winged, falcon-headed lions. A passageway to the west stretches off
into darkness.
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Marcus looks around the room. After struggling with the limited light, he removes a small object from his belt pouch. Pinched between his thumb and forefinger, he holds a small fire fly. After presenting an iron emblem of his god, he mumbles a few words to Gorum in his native language.
Gorum, giv mig ild
In answer to his request, the small fly turns to dust, then Marcus places his hand on his chest. After a few moments, he removes his hand, and a small glow appears, then begins to intensify. Soon it becomes a comfortable light source.
Satisfied with the new light source, Marcus continues to look over the area.
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The cool of the Great Hall provides welcome relief from the desert heat of the last few days, allowing Horus to give a heart-felt sigh of relief.
After a few minutes to regain his composure, he joins the others in exploring the chamber, finding the decorations enchanting, but not really being able to contribute to the scholarly discussion around him.
When Logain mentions the pressure plate, he frowns.
"The Ancestors often warded their tombs with a variety of traps; tell me, did we bring anyone with us that is skilled in dealing with them, or will we just have to trigger them, and hope for the best?"
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Marcus’s eyes open wide when Horus mentions triggering the ancient pressure plate. How about we bypass it all together. Unless you think it is tied to a secret entrance of some kind. Besides, who would be willingly go up there and step on that thing?
Marcus runs his fingers through his beard a few times, then diverts his gaze to Sahba. It’s a good thing your Allosaurus sensed something was wrong.
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Marcus examines the wand that supposedly will summon a pony. He shacks the thing a few times, then taps it on his knee. Unfortunately I can’t do much with this stick either.
I believe Sidney might know something about it being a sorcerer and all, but I haven’t seen him in a while. Maybe there's something to be said about laying low. Marcus looks around a bit for Sidney, then gives the wand back to Horus.