Sykala, in her travels, saw a Rune of Subjugation.
Through careful cooperation, the team finds that the sarcophagus contained a rod of writhing, a gold circlet worth 1375 gp, 2 moonstone studded rings (75 gp each), a pair of bracers of defense +3, two deep blue spinals 500 gp, and an ancient gold coin that sat on his tongue 100gp.
They find no encircled runes. None of this was found at the Pharoah's feet. The archon reported nothing at his feet.
"Aye, 'twas good t' be gettin' 'at blindfold off o' me face fer a bit."
He ponders after he replaced the clothe, "Ye know, mebbe we need t' be thinkin' 'bout 'ow th' blind man got out. 'e was 'n fer enuff t' be trapped, eh? But 'e got out. 'n speakin' o' th' ol' man, Paracount, 'at did ye do wit' 'is mask?"
As Korian waits for the Paracount to answer Orivid's question he also expresses a thought
"It occurs to me, while theses items may be valuable to the normal person, would they really be representative of the items of a being of such vast and overwheling wealth as the Cerulean Pharoh?"
" Could it be possible the sarcopghagus we found was merely a decoy and the real one lies somewhere else? For based on several of the clues we've found there is evidence to point in this direction"
Sykala bangs a fist against the stone wall to indicate it's solidity and shakes her head at Korian.
"Aye, 'twas good t' be gettin' 'at blindfold off o' me face fer a bit."
He ponders after he replaced the clothe, "Ye know, mebbe we need t' be thinkin' 'bout 'ow th' blind man got out. 'e was 'n fer enuff t' be trapped, eh? But 'e got out. 'n speakin' o' th' ol' man, Paracount, 'at did ye do wit' 'is mask?"
"Hrokon?" asks the Paracount, "Do you still have that mask I asked you to carry?"
Hrokon rolls his eyes and looks at Ovirid with a long-suffering expression. "Yes," he said. "If you asked me to carry it then it is in my sack somewhere."
"'en mebbe we should be fer seein' if'n th' mask-'older c'n leave, eh? B'fore we look t' th' Cerulean tomb ag'n?"
"'en mebbe we should be fer seein' if'n th' mask-'older c'n leave, eh? B'fore we look t' th' Cerulean tomb ag'n?"
Hrokon takes the mask out of his backpack, unwraps it, and walks toward the barrier holding it in front of him. He gets no further than the rest of you.
"Well? Didja get through, H'roken? Ah 'ave me doubts, but th' old man 'ad t' get out somehow."
"Lass, 'r ye still 'ere? Did ye see signs o' where th' old man 'n 'is family went when 'ey were 'ere last? Did they go some'ere we 'aven't?"
"Well? Didja get through, H'roken? Ah 'ave me doubts, but th' old man 'ad t' get out somehow."
"Lass, 'r ye still 'ere? Did ye see signs o' where th' old man 'n 'is family went when 'ey were 'ere last? Did they go some'ere we 'aven't?"
"No," says Hrokon. "And, no."
"Lass, 'r ye still 'ere? Did ye see signs o' where th' old man 'n 'is family went when 'ey were 'ere last? Did they go some'ere we 'aven't?""No," says Hrokon. "And, no."
With a grin, "Ye 'ave been 'oldin' out 'n me, lad. Th' lass Ah was referrin' t' was th' one wit' th' rocky skin. Th' one 'at did th' scoutin' fer us 'n found 'r friend 'ere was still alive."
With a grin, "Ye 'ave been 'oldin' out 'n me, lad. Th' lass Ah was referrin' t' was th' one wit' th' rocky skin. Th' one 'at did th' scoutin' fer us 'n found 'r friend 'ere was still alive.""Lass, 'r ye still 'ere? Did ye see signs o' where th' old man 'n 'is family went when 'ey were 'ere last? Did they go some'ere we 'aven't?""No," says Hrokon. "And, no."
"I don't speak dwarf," says Hrokon apologetically.
"I don't speak dwarf," says Hrokon apologetically.
Another grin at that, "Ye know, 't's been s' long since Ah saw 'nother dwarf, Ah'm not sure 'at Ah do, either!"
A stony hand pulls up Ovirid's blindfold so he can see her shake her head in response to his question.
"She said, 'no,'" Hrokon translates helpfully for the briefly unblindfolded dwarf.
The Paracount snorts in derision.
Esteban tentatively broaches the subject, "So, maybe the key in blue is hidden in the River of Gold? It's worth a look. Rivers are at people's feet."
"She said, 'no,'" Hrokon translates helpfully for the briefly unblindfolded dwarf.
The dwarf chuckles, "'n 'at's why Ah like ye, lad. Yer helpful nature." He keeps chuckling as he adjusts his blindfold.
"'steban, Ah think ye jus' want 'nother chance 't th' river o' gold. 'r yer pockets not full 'nuff yet? 'n 'ow do ye propose t' be convincin' th' current resident o' th' river 't ye should be 'elpin' yerself agin?"
Ok, Here's my thinking. Between us three non-spontaneous casters we can summon a small army of 1st,2nd and 3rd level creatures. We summon them all first outside the room and then send them in en-masse to attack the dragon. Once it is engaged and surrounded by them, we step in and bombard it from a distance with spells and projectiles.
Of course we can 'Hide from Undead' ourselves while we get in place to attack, so that only the summonings are percivable by the dragon. And, with a careful selection of the rest of our spells...well, it seems to me that it's do-able...
Of course the plan is wide open to improvements and other ideas, so please feel free to add, share, criticize etc.
So what 'cha all think?
Sykala puts up a hand to Korian and then phases back into the stone wall...hopefully to return.
** spoiler omitted **
Sykala puts up a hand to Korian and then phases back into the stone wall...hopefully to return.
1d20+13
Sykala finds a secret compartment at the feet of the Pharoah.
She opens it if she can. I am assuming that the sarcophagus is still open. So she will do so as quietly as possible to avoid attracting the dragons attention.
The grating of the stone compartment makes the druidess cringe...
She opens it if she can. I am assuming that the sarcophagus is still open. So she will do so as quietly as possible to avoid attracting the dragons attention.
1d20+2
The grating of the stone compartment makes the druidess cringe...
Inside the small compartment are 45 obsidian chips and 11 carefully cut pieces of blue dragons scale.
And, speaking of blue dragons, Sykala hears the sound of a creature shifting beneath the river of gold.
Quickly closing the compartment, Sykala sinks back into the stone and safety. She quickly returns to the rest of the group. Indicating that she found something. She points downward until someone guesses the dragon but stops anyone trying to go. Laying down and closing her eyes to indicate rest she waits to see what the others do.
Korian says "Well done Sykala. So it seems we do indeed have to enter the dragon's den again. Druidess, perhaps would bwe best if you return to your nortmal form and then all of can discuss our best plan of attack"
"Y'know, p'haps we dinnae need t' be fightin' th' critter 't all. If'n some'un c'n use yer magic t' 'ide from 't 'n go 'n while yer little critters distract 't, 't might be th' best course o' action."
"I think that is our only chance. I'll go." Ixius volunteers.
Sykala shakes her head at Korian's suggestion she change back to her normal form and points at the entrance of the tomb.
Spells & Stuff
Ok So here's the list of spells I propose:
-Silence, Hide from Undead and (maybe Protection from Evil) will have to come from the Cleric and/or Druid
-Korian can scribe for Ixus an Invisibility and Cat's Grace scroll and he already has a Fly available and will lend him a Mirror Image and Rope Trick in case of emergency. (He'll keep his last invisibility scroll and Rope Trick as backup for himself and the party)
-For himself he will memorize:
1st lvl: Mage Armor, Magic Missle(x3), +Summon Monster I
(unless Sykala or the Paracount can't/don't memorize Protection from Evil than Korian will swap a Mag Missle for that and cast it on Ixus too)
2nd:Mirror Image, See Invisiblity(from Scepter's spell book), Summon Monster II(x2), + School Spell- Summon Monster II
3rd:Protection from Energy(electricity, of course ; ), Fireball, Summon Monster III, +School Spell- Summon Monster III
and that should about do it for Korian
"Well, that's all well and good. I don't think this pyramid is going anywhere so I guess we have time to rest and recuperate," says the Paracount. "Mind if I take a crack at this undead dragon while you scribble?"
"Can I watch?"
"Can I watch?"
"Certainly," says the Paracount. "But I won't be able to protect you and deal with this creature so keep out of the way."
"I believe my fine sorcerous friend meant 'can he watch the dragon mutilate you'." Korian says with a sardonic smirk
His features get more serious though as he continues "However the point is moot though for if you think we are letting you get anywhere near that chamber alone than you are more fool than I thought. Now sit down and shut up. Or if you must talk, perhaps you can entertain us with your plans on how you intended to take on a mummified dragon all by yourself."
After a moment, as a parting shot Korian adds "Oh, and if you were thinking of sneaking off, my orders shall be to kill you on sight"
"I believe my fine sorcerous friend meant 'can he watch the dragon mutilate you'." Korian says with a sardonic smirk
His features get more serious though as he continues "However the point is moot though for if you think we are letting you get anywhere near that chamber alone than you are more fool than I thought. Now sit down and shut up. Or if you must talk, perhaps you can entertain us with your plans on how you intended to take on a mummified dragon all by yourself."
After a moment, as a parting shot Korian adds "Oh, and if you were thinking of sneaking off, my orders shall be to kill you on sight"
The Paracount glares at Korian and doesn't sit but doesn't leave either. "How would I take on a mummified dragon? I have no intention of sharing my secrets with you until there's more trust between us. If you think I'm incapable of matching it, than come watch me."
"If'n yer goin' on down, Ah think we all should be fer goin' down. Dinnae matter if'n ye like each other 'r not, goin' up agin' a dragon alone when ye 'ave a choice 's not th' best choice. Ye said th' pyramid is not fer goin' anywhere, s' what's th' rush? Wait 'til tomorrow when everyone be ready, 'n then ye c'n show off. If'n ye misjudge 'n th' dragon get th' better o' ye, we 'ill be fer 'avin' a chance t' back ye up."
"If'n yer goin' on down, Ah think we all should be fer goin' down. Dinnae matter if'n ye like each other 'r not, goin' up agin' a dragon alone when ye 'ave a choice 's not th' best choice. Ye said th' pyramid is not fer goin' anywhere, s' what's th' rush? Wait 'til tomorrow when everyone be ready, 'n then ye c'n show off. If'n ye misjudge 'n th' dragon get th' better o' ye, we 'ill be fer 'avin' a chance t' back ye up."
"Hmmm," says the Paracount reasonably. "If we're to work together then, you'd best be more forthcoming with the details. Tell me everything about the room, the creature, and the way back out if things go awry."
"Ah 'ave not seen th' room, t' be 'onest wit' you. If'n we goin' t' cooperate, it needs t' be startin' wit' you 'n Korian." The dwarf turns his face toward where he last heard the mage's voice.
"Like the dwarf said, I wan't to see what you plan to do to that dragon. We couldn't hurt it, and we owned you."
Korian stares at his old friend for a long moment even though he knew Orvirid couldn't see him. Always had he listened to, and counted on the Dwarf's sage advie, but damn it! It rankled sometimes when he was right!
With a long sigh the young mage finally turns to face the Paracount saying
"My trust is something you shall never have, infidel, but the dwarf is right in that our best chances of escaping this place lie in working together.I shall answer your questions. Yet know my promise remains, try to sneak down there without us and I shall kill you myself if I must"
Following this Korian details their last encounter with the dragon.
The Paracount seems unperturbed by the flack he's getting. He listens carefully to the others descriptions of the dragon and the room.
Once the Paracount's questions are answered and if no one has anything else to do, Korian suggests they turn in for a much needed rest. Before doing so though he arranges a guard schedule that never leaves the Paracount alone with any of his (former?) heirlings. As an added precaution he secretly and silently sets Jinx as a guard upon the untrustworthy priest.
As we appear to have established that our current location does not hold more encircled runes, Ovirid will remove his blindfold during his watch.