The valuable possessions of the fallen barbarian are:
chain shirt, spear, 3 javelins
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Albretch, a moment. I noticed that your sling use was, less than effective shall we say. Here,take my crossbow. I feel you will serve you better for the time being.
Dusty takes the crossbow from her back, and the bolt case as well. She hands them to the alchemist.
twenty bolts gives reasonable ammunition. When you can afford your own, give it back.
"I will leave that decision to you then. I'm sure your goddess can speak with hers if there is any difficulty in the future."
Turning to the newly arrived Magus, Fatima bows in place while holding both arms out to her sides, each index finger and thumb touching with the remaining fingers extended.
"Greetings to you Umbryl Char. I am Fatima, servant of the Pahmet. If you come with respect for the ancient dead, I welcome you."
After recovering from your ordeal you open the doors at the bottom of the stairwell to a 30 by 20 foot room.....
A tapestry hangs from a frame against the south wall of this
large chamber; it depicts an otherworldly vista where the souls
of the dead, shepherded by strange beings, enter an ethereal
river ambling through space toward a landscape dominated by an impossibly tall spire. Columns sculpted in the shape of
Osirian warriors wielding khopeshes stand in all four corners of
the room. The floor is tiled in a white spiral pattern on a black
background, and this spiral pattern is repeated on the stone
double doors to the north, east, and west.
Carefully investigating the room reveals no surprises and the doors are locked and sturdy.
"Well met, Fatima, Dusty. I respect the dead, but I believe any knowledge or treasure they have, would be best passed on to those who can still use it."He says with a grin, then shrugs.
"If we are going to continue, without returning for healing magics, we should probably advance with caution."
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" So, does this tapestry depict something to do with Pharasma?"
I gracefully accept zis crossbow
Albretch looks over the tapestry. He doesnt know a lot about religion, so he simply searches the chamber, gently prodding the walls & sweeping away sand in the hopes of finding some ancient mechanism.
"I think a rest is in order. We can retreat to the surface or remain here, but I think continuing may be too dangerous. Between the scorpion and the snake, we may want to call it a day and begin again in a few hours. I am in no hurry, but am I missing something?"
" A quick retreat and resupply would work for me. However without something to sell it would be moot. I don't have enough funds for purchases beyond a meal and maybe a nights rest."
He looks around the room, and behind the tapestry.
" Also, these doors are locked. I have no skill at unlocking them. Does anyone else?"
Returning to the market for a quick exchange of the chain shirt yields enough to buy two scrolls of Cure Light Wounds at the most basic level. The group considers making other purchases and returns to the crypt. The round trip and negotiations take about two hours and fifteen minutes.
After carefully scouring the room, the two doors are still locked and sealed. No locksmith seemed willing to go down a narrow shaft into a just excavated tomb.
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"Well, no go on someone opening the locks. Unless one of you can do it?"
As they reenter the tomb....
" We can try this other door back here, is it locked?.... or continue on down to the room with locked doors and try to force them open. " He says holding up the crowbar.
" I'm game either way. Really in need of funds, so I am all for checking every nook and cranny."
Nodding to Dusty and Fatima.." With all due respect of course."
Feeling confident, Fatima steps back to let the others know she is finished.
" Way to go Fatima."
Umbryl is impressed with her skills.
"Ahh. Dusty, I figured they were worth something, but wasn't sure 'bout removing them without bein' disrespectful..."
Fatima easily picks both locks allowing both doors to be opened. Albrecht points out there is still a door off the mirrored chamber that has not been opened too.
Listening at both doors yields nothing to hear. As the tapestry is removed it crumbles to the touch and is of no value. Umbral has a crowbar in reserve he received after trading in some of the weapons from the barbarian.
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Their historical value is high, and respect is shown by understanding. Besides, graves are for the living. They allow us to commenerate the dead, showing respect, but once all those who knew these people are gone themselves, the tombs job is done. I'm not saying we should tear this tomb apart, selling to the highest bidder. But this tomb is a window to the past, and should be bought to light. And if we get paid to do this, all the better.
Fatima looks over toward Dusty, her lips pursed. Shaking her head, she speaks quietly, but with conviction. "The city above is for the living, the one below is for the dead. Just as they have no business in yours, we have little business in theirs.
The Ruby Prince has seen fit, in his wisdom, to open this city to exploration. Whether or not he has the authority to do so is a question that only time may answer. Whether he does or does not however, I would take great care touching any relics that you may wish to later recover until they have been properly treated for removal. Neither his, yours, nor their owner's interests are served by destroying what we see."
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I never said anything about destruction, fatima. In fact the only reason I am checking this is to preserve it, not ruin it. Obviously we must be careful. Dusty continues her examination.
This is a cultural treasure, and it deserves to be seen, not left to molder in a crypt. The man whose tomb this is lived and died in another time. This is his story, his beliefs, a window to that time.
Dusty turns and gives a wry look at the archer. your prince thinks this. Yet you do not. Why are you here then?
" ummm. Philosophical debates aside, We're burning Daylight. So, do we go though one of these two doors, or back to the previously unsearched one? I mean if they are going to crumble, we can't take them anyhow. So better left alone for now right?"
"I am Pahmet, Dusty. He is my Prince, but not guaranteed my allegiance. By ancient tradition, we Pahmet occupy a...unique...position within the society of Osirion. The land of Osirion is ancient and its citizens have many traditions going back even further. I have resigned myself that these relics be removed, but I have not resigned myself that their ownership should transfer hands. This is a house of the dead. It is we who trespass here and in Osirion, one's rights do not fade upon death, no matter how much time has passed."
Fatima is clearly not angry. She is curious about what Dusty knows and believes. She can no doubt be accused of lecturing, but that is more of a dwarf thing than any attempt at rudeness.
"You are correct Umbryl Char, although this is no mere philosophical debate. And I agree with your conclusion. I will check the room to the north and we may proceed in that direction."
Fatima moves to the north door, cautiously opening it and peering into the room beyond.
Opening the door north lead down ten feet of stairs to another set of doors. Opening them lead down ten feet of stairs to another set of doors. Opening the last set of doors reveals.....
The center of this large octagonal room is a raised square platform a few inches above the floor, with a stone pillar at each corner. A gold-trimmed sarcophagus sits in the center of the platform, flanked by two statues of humanoid beings with canine heads, each of which holds an ankh in one of its crossed arms. Stone double doors exit the room to the north and south.
"I dunno about the rest, but the statues are that Anubis god...."
Umbryl says as he grips his mace and looks around...
The sarcophagus is trimmed in gold leaf. It would take some time to remove it from the edges of the sarcophagus.
Fatima slips into the last room carefully, looking for some hint as to the identity of the sarcophagus' occupant. Perhaps carvings on the side or the lid?
Fatima moves up to the sarcophagus, but a new intruder into the tomb is seen in the doorway. From the features, the humanoid looks elven. The appearance of a figure at his back in the shadows startles Albrecht the alchemist. He grabs his chest in surprise and collapses silently to the ground.
As Albrecht hits the ground, he drops the bomb he was mixing and his body goes up in a dramatic explosion. Luckily no one close by is injured.
" WOW. Did we... Maybe.. set of a ... curse or something?"
Umbryl asks nervously, glancing around.
Not wanting to carry a loaded crossbow while mixing explosives, Albrecht had carefully set it to the side where it stands undisturbed and unharmed.
An elf, carrying a long sword, walks into the room. Seeing the cleric kneeling next to the very dead man, he shakes his head. "No wonder, Sebti the Crocodile sent me to give your group a hand. Is anyone else hurt?"
At first blush one might think of him as just another sword-arm walking around, until they notice the many pouches that adorn his belt and the spell-book strapped to his backpack.
" You as well? The Crocodile sent me to help them too. When I arrived their Barbarian charged a sand creature and died. It worked out well for me, as I was too late to join a group this morning."
The elf gives a sly smile, before sheathing his sword and bowing. "Faisal Ethelwyn, at your service."
Faisal tips his head to the side and scratches his chin. "Actually, it depends on the moment. I wield both sword and magic.
"I recommend being very careful, my friend. This house is permeated with death, and it seems to be catching."
"I thank you for the warning, friend. I will step lightly and try to keep my wits about me."
Fatima points out a trap that appears to be triggered when anyone gets on the platform near the sarcophagus. With her tools she can try to disarm it.
Faisal, walks over and kneels down next to the trap, cocking his head to see it better. "Trap disarmer, are you?" He says to Fatima. "I had a friend that was quite adept at that."
" Yeah....Fighting yes...traps, not so much..."
Fatima chucles, "I hope you had a falling out with your friend, because the only other past-tense situation that comes to mind is that he was a poor trapsmith."
Crouching down, the dwarf carefully examines the outline of the trap. Reaching into her pack, she pulls out her chisels and wedges and sets to work.
Fatima breathes a sigh of relief and nods her thanks to Dusty.