Glumly points out a secret door leading out of the chamber. He seems to have talents similar to Rakal for finding hidden doors. "I like this architecture. Notice the dissimilarities in the stone here concealing a secret door."
A secret door is on the east wall of the chamber.
Asaran nods and rubs his throat, "I didn't, though I'm glad to be in the company of dwarves who do."
He then looks at the stone again, finally seeing the outline the dwarf pointed to and nods to himself, At least I'm not wholly blind.... Studying the thing, he asks, "Can you find the mechanism to open it? And can someone check to see if it's trapped?"
Asaran's perceptive eyes had barely missed the construction.
Looking at the door, no one sees anything nefarious. It seems a simple push in door according to both dwarves.
Glumly casts a light spell on his spear as he pushes the door with his amazingly well crafted spear as Sunjeet helps out from closer.
To your horror, a horde of beetles and silver cockroaches oozes through the door and attempts to move over you. Like a pestilent black tide, a ravenous horde of thousands of tiny, clacking cockroaches washes over everything in its path.
If you are not holding the scarab shield, you take
Glumly calmly spits out a cloud of cockroaches from his mouth and channels aid from the Lady of Graves healing
The biting and festering sores disappear as a cleansing healing takes all your injuries away--this dwarf has a powerful friend!!
ORDER
Asaran
Rakal
Sunjeet
SWARM OF COCKROACHES AND BEETLES!!
Glumly seems concerned about the state of his beard as he looks to you and grunts: "I'm doing my job, now you do yours!!"
Rakal calls the others to back away from the swarm. As they do he backs off as well and hurls a vial of alchemist fire, "There is another one as well if someone wants to through it, otherwise cover it is oil and light it on fire"
The swarm of bugs manages to bypass the enchanted shield, and Rakal is beset by roaches and silverfish.
He steps to the side and hits the swarm with a burst of well targeted flame and man bugs die. The residue of burning oil lands on the party, but the residual healing energy of Pharasma lingers, and it burns off as if you were protected by a thin, divine residue.
Reforming, the swarm tries to bite and sting.
Undeterred by the shield again, they devour you for
Glumly again channels the power of his deity.
All the bites and sting go away, and a faint residue clings to you.
Rakal throws his fire again, and many a bug dies. Once again, there is enough healing energy to keep the oil from burning you. The swarm dissipates in a cloud of magic, unable to continue to harass you.
You find yourselves with no residual damage thanks to Pharasma, and Glumly can only say.
"Wow, that was f*&^ing awesome!!!"
Rakal addresses Glumly, "If not for you, that fight could have been lethal. You divine powers are appreciated. Now, let us see what is in this chamber."
Asaran says, "Hopefully any other deadly creatures are more vulnerable to my blade."
You push into what you believe is the final chamber of Akenti!
Asaran says, "It's too bad the halfling isn't here to see this."
A sarcophagus covered in gold leaf rests on a raised stone platform in the center of this chamber. The casket’s cover is carved the likeness of an adult man with his arms crossed over his chest, and covered in thick coat of dust. Two ornate chests sit beyond the dais in the northeast and southeast corners, and between them stand two large funerary urns. The sole exit is a door to the west, which you came from.
The mummified body of Akhentepi is interred in this room along with many of his riches. The door to the chamber is unlocked and free of traps, as are the two well-constructed, though dusty, chests beside the dais. The urns are made of bronze and appear to have once contained leaves or incense, but now hold nothing more than ashes and dust.
Inside the sarcophagus, Akhentepi’s mummified corpse wears an exquisitely crafted gold funerary mask worth 500 gp. One of the chests contains Akhentepi’s armor (see page 60), the magic suit of padded armor he wore in life. The other chest holds a disintegrating cloth sack filled with 500 gp, as well as a small, well-preserved darkwood coffer worth 50 gp. Inside the coffer is a potion of darkvision, a potion of lesser restoration, an ornate lapis and carnelian pendant worth 70 gp, and an assortment of carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise semiprecious stones worth a total of 55 gp
Glumly looks around. "I respect the dead, but this guy is probably loaded. As long as we leave his body inside, we should be good. At least that is my story and I'm sticking to it!! Somebody better help me check it for traps."
Asaran suggests, "Take the extra time to get it right... And we can all assist.. A few extra sets of eyes can't hurt.. "
In the final burial chamber, behind the dais appears a metallic statue of a massive cobra. This one is intent on ambushing the tomb robbers checking the tomb for traps.
Glumly
Sunjeet
Asaran
Rakal
Iron Cobra
The Iron cobra jumps on Rakal and attempts to bite him.
It hits and injects the venom of the black adder into Rakal!!
The mechanical snake has been filled with poison and can inject it when it bites!!
Order
Round 1
Rakal
Iron Cobra
Party
Iron cobra
All but Rakal are still looking for traps. Glumly says: "Bitin a dwarf, with poison. What an insult!!! How do we fight these metal contraptions?"
Glumly says: "This one is for the treasure boys. Bury me here if I fall, this is my destiny!!"
Rakal takes the bite, but his shrugs off the wounds as he calls out to Anubis to aid him in the battle.
DC 17
HP 8/11 AC 19
Effects Judgment of Protection, Divine Favor
The cobra attacks. It misses Rakal with his defenses up.
Party to go all 4
Asaran draws his falcata and takes a small step to the north, trying to split the strange metallic snake's attention with the dwarf who shares his fate. He feints once with the blade, then brings it quickly down on a cross-stroke, catching the beast with a solid blow.
Asaran strikes the construct and leaves a few scratches. Asaran knows the creature resisted some of his damage. The creature is quite well protected, as much as a mailed knight.
Rakal swats at the snake, trying to pierce its tough metal hide.
HP 8/11 AC 19
Effects Judgment of Protection, Divine Favor
Rakal puts more dents in the iron than the ranger and Glumly shrugs and stabs it with his spear.
He misses in the confusion, failing to penetrate armor. The cobra goes after Rakal again, trying to bite. Glumly cheers as Rakal dodges. "That's it, dodge those iron fangs!!"
ORDER
Sunjeet
Entire Party
Iron Cobra
"It got me once unawares, but it won't find me easy prey"
Glumly threatens and casts to bless the group. It enables the second whip strike to hit the construct and tear a chunk out.
Rakal dodges another bite.
order
Asaran x2
Rest of party
HP 8/11 AC 19
Effects Judgment of Protection, Divine Favor, bless
Asaran winces as his blade vibrates from hitting the metal thing and not penetrating deeping, then swings again... "It seems to resist weapon strikes," he growls.
for
Asaran swings again while the serpent is focussed on Rakal, shouting, "Anubis, give me strength!"
for
The strikes of Asaran continue to have little effect. Glumly strikes with his spear and misses. He curses: "If I find the gnome that built this, I'm givin' him a beatdown!!"
The cobra moves to the wall and strikes at Rakal.
The battle rages on.
Order
Rakal
Asaran
Sunjeet
Glumly
Cobra
Glumly waits to see if his healing is needed.
Rakal moves into position to flank (if possible)and continues to chip away at it.
"Aye give me a piece of that gnome as well!"
HP 8/11 AC 19
Effects Judgment of Protection, Divine Favor, bless
Asaran follows his fellow Anubian and again lashes out with his blade, "Anyone know of a better way to kill it then our blades? I think it's dulling my falcata."
The cobra continues to dodge all the attacks and slip to the corridor outside.
Glumly stabs with his spear as the cobra swipes at Rakal
Glumly misses and the cobra connects.
Seeing his fellow dwarf hit, Glumly reaches to heal Rakal. He casts before he closes and avoids an attack from the cobra
The healing energy is minimal.
The cobra strikes at Rakal again when given the chance. Glumly shrugs after healing Rakal and swings ineffectively at the armored creature.
ORDER - x2 means two actions to speed things along
Rakal x2
Asaran x2
Sunjeet x2
Cobra
Asaran does his best to follow the metal snake, trying to keep position with his dwarven companion, lashing out with his heavy blade...
He curses again as his weapon vibrates from hitting the metallic beast, then lashes out again.
The combined onslaught destroys the iron monster. Ichor leaks out of the smashed hulk. Asaran points out it is venom.
You search and find amazing treasures to bring back to town. Confident you have explored the tomb, you are more confident in your abilities.
Rakal notices he yelled, but the last bite was divinely deflected. Glumly states: "That was all me and my old LADY OF GRAVES! "
Searching the funeral chamber:
Inside the sarcophagus, Akhentepi’s mummified corpse wears an exquisitely crafted gold funerary mask. One of the chests contains Akhentepi’s armor --a magic suit of padded armor he wore in life. The other chest holds a disintegrating cloth sack filled with 500 gp, as well as a small, well-preserved darkwood coffer. Inside the coffer are two potions, an ornate lapis and carnelian pendant, and an assortment of carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise semiprecious stones.
Potions are darkvision and minor restoration
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 linen. 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. Worth is 2000gp+
On the trip back to the Temple of Pharasma, the group runs into the attractive Velriana and her crew and they stop Glumly and block his way. "Glumly, you better not Keep the Sanctuary of the Erudite Eye from us. Tell Sebti, she better let us at it."
She fixes you with a glance. "You wannabees better let me know if you get the Erudite Eye. If you don't, you will regret it."
When she leaves, Glumly spits and says: "That B*&%!!"
"I cannot tell what the potions are, but this armor is interesting. This armor has the traditional Orisian design, but it has a couple of interesting properties. First it protects better than typical padded armor, but it also will close up cuts enough so you won't bleed out. In addition it appears to help aid someone react quicker to danger, but I think it has a limited use. After using it you may have to wait a day before the magic has built back up enough, but hopefully there isn't more than one case a day where the danger is bad enough you need it.
When she leaves, Glumly spits and says: "That B*&%!!"
"Yeah I know! Humans! No offense...." he says looking at Asaran.
Sebti gives you words of praise: "Well done, what did you discover?" Glumly produces his notes on the tomb, the position of the remains, and the ingenious trap that locks doors and floods the room.
Just before the evening meal, Sebti calls the companies together and presents your new ruin to explore. You have drawn an older family estate that has been in ruin for years--the Pantheru Estate.
An Osiron collector offers 2200 gp for the armor from the tomb. Glumly says: "I think I can get Sebti to match that offer. Does anyone want it? I think it is too light for me."
Glumly adds: "We must at least buy some ale at the Tooth and Hookah and drink to the family of spear chucking charioteers that gave us all the loot."
Asaran shakes his head, "None taken. Humans killed me the second time. "
Asaran says, "I also prefer something a little heavier. I think sale and using the funds for better gear is the best course of action... Though honoring the dear and ourselves with a drink is also a good idea."
You head to the estate on the next day. Sebti has assigned you the Pentheru Estate as your crypt to explore.
Sandstone walls ten feet high enclose this estate, affording those who once lived inside some privacy. A two-story stone house is visible beyond the walls, adjoining the rear wall of the property. In the center of the estate’s southern wall stands a pair of tarnished bronze gates hanging partially open. A pair of statues flanks the gate. Hieroglyphs are carved into the wall at eye level to the left of the gate.
The hieroglyphs read “House of Pentheru” in Ancient Osiriani. The statues depict two men with a regal bearing and dressed in loose, short robes and traditional Osirian head cloths. Asaran and Rakal points out small hieroglyphs on the statues’ bases that identify the figures as Pentheru the Elder and Pentheru the Younger. The bronze gates are decrepit and appear to have been broken open long ago.
As you approach the outer courtyard....
Dust and sand cover the ground of this small courtyard. To the east and west stand pairs of columns, once brightly painted and now bleached from the sun, which support stone archways leading to other section of the property. Tarnished bronze gates hang open under both arches. To the north, a small flight of steps leads up to a pair of ornate doors in the south wall of the house between another set of columns.
The wind has obliterated any tracks or signs of passage in the courtyard, giving the impression that no one has entered the grounds in years.
You recall your treasure division and look at your common items:
light scarab shield +1, 10cold iron arrows, two vials of silversheen, potion of darkvision, potion of lesser restoration
3790 gp was split into four equal shares (947.5gp). Glumly took his share with the promise of future adventures if his schedule permitted it.
Purchasing a wand of CLW from the church for 750gp (250 gp from the original three) left their shares at 697.5gp.
Your new member joined, and you would estimate they were relatively well equipped (1000gp standard starting WBL).
Before departing, you go to the market to sell the magic shield. Unlike the armor, with great historical significance, it is pointed out that the shield has limited utility. Also many treasures have been sold. An offer of 1840 gold pieces is given to you by the largest merchant there and you doubt you will get a better one.
On the positive side, the very same merchant has an enchanted greatsword for sale for 2100 gold.