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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.
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.
Rakal turns to the others, "So do we go inside or check out the outside grounds first?"
Asaran says, "Let's do the grounds first.". He chuckles, " Nice to think we may have learned something after being followed into the crypt last time."
A quick glance to the left (west) shows a larger courtyard with a single building. A quick glance to the right (east) show an entrance to an extension of the house, a well, and a few outbuildings built into the outer wall.
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Asaran scans the area then says, "Might be worth checking the outbuildings first... Could be something useful, maybe another way in."
The group said their goodbyes to the cleric of the Lady of Graves, Glumly. An accomplished mage with alchemical skills, knowledge of many things, and connections to Thassilonian buyers, joined the group.
The mage had just finished working to help the temple with alchemical supplies, including holy water. Glumly introduced him to the party and withdrew to his own clerical studies with Sebti the Crocodile.
As they investigated the grounds of the Panteru Manor and moved toward a large mausoleum, Asaran disturbed a massive many legged creature with an agile and massive tail.
INITIskender
Sunjeet
Asaran
Rakal
Enemy 1
ORDER
SURPRISE ROUND PCS @ 23 Perception or better
Surprise centipede
ROUND 1
PCS
Centipede
I can't touch a DC23 Perception
A whip strike hits the centipede and causes a nasty strip of flesh to be torn away.
Rakal reacts and delivers a nasty pick blow, but he fails to penetrate the carcass.
The nasty scorpion makes a single venomous strike.
Asaran finds a nasty bite.
Asaran feels a nasty bite and a rush of venom trying to slow him down.
Rakal screams his rage and strikes again!!! The dwarf misses delivering a fatal strike with the nasty pick but hits near the eye of the vermin.
ORDER
All but Rakal
Centipede (11 damage taken)
I will cast daze on the centipede, DC 13 Will Save
"I sure hope this works."
The nasty scorpion makes a single venomous strike.
Asaran winces under the blow and then starts to worry as he feels the wound burn, then allows himself to sigh in relief as the burning doesn't seem to spread through him.
He shakes his head as be brings his Falcata down on the armoured thing, "Always with the giant bugs. It's getting to be tradition."
for
The mind affecting spell has not effect on the simple verminous creature, and it continues its assault!!
The centipede with the stinging tail attacks the dwarf that almost took him out.
Rakal delivers a counter to the centipede, cutting it badly with his devastating pick blow.
Order
Asaran
Iskender
Sunjeet
Whiptail cent
I'll hit it with an acid dart:
The dwarf inquisitor moved five feet and drew blood before taking a might blow. Sunjeet takes more strips of flesh, and the vermin clings to life. Asaran moves to best take advantage of the shift from the dwarf.
Asaran is up -- note the centipede has 10' reach
Asaran stays close to the beast, swinging with his Falcata while it's distracted by the dwarf opposite him.
The centipede is rocked by an acid splash and a whip shot. The centipede whips his tail to try and trip the ranger and then tries to bite the ranger.
Toppling the ranger to the ground, the bite comes down for the finish.
The ranger blacks out on the ground. Rakal retaliates in fury but misses by a tiny bit the large vermin.
ORDER
Asaran - down
Rakal - miss
Sunjeet
Iskender
I'm not a blaster, so doing my best here!
I'll hit it with an acid dart:
Sunjeet disables the creature. With a last gasp, it attacks Sunjeet with his stinger before expiring. More poison goes in before the big bug collapses.
Combat OVER!!
Sunjeet takes out his wand of healing and begins liberally applying it to all wounded.
Asaran stands, a little shakily, and says, "I hope that wasn't an omen." He then nods his head at the bard, "Thank you."
Almost defeated by the centipede, the party withdraws to the courtyard. Joined by a cleric from a disbanded group, Dusty Fireseeker, Rakal took his leave to pursue a vision he had after shrugging off the horrors of the centipede.
"You are surely welcome Dusty! I am Iskender, I specialize in Thassilonian Conjuration."
Asaran extends a hand in greeting, then rubs his throat with his left hand, warming his scar, "Greetings, Dusty. I am Asaran Neitekh, servant of Anubis.".
"Well Dusty, it is difficult to explain it precisely to one not steeped in the traditions of ancient Thassilon and its magics, however, I once knew fellow who explains it as, a Thassilonian Mage was better than other mages at some things, but worse at the rest. I do not strictly agree, but there are some magics that I am simply unable to master, but I have gains more mastery of Conjuration in exchange."
Asaran rubs his throat again, then speaks, his voice gravelly, "My family followed the old ways.... and Anubis returned me to life to serve him in this world... then directed me to explore these tombs."
Moving down into the crypt after healing, you see a corpse on top of a sarcophogas.