Izra believes that the game might be worth up to 50 gold pieces to the right collector.
The Band carefully pack away the game and enter the last room.
Dust blankets this room. The walls, once brightly painted to depict life in ancient Wati, are now faded. A smaller room or alcove takes up the northeast section of the room; it was once closed off by a wooden door that since has rotted away, leaving only its hinges in the doorframe. A strong, cloying odor of decay pervades the room, similar to the last one.
Buried amid the debris in the room is a large darkwood box.
The Band decides to try their luck with the key Suri found, and sure enough the chest pops open without a fuss.
Inside the Band finds a wedding robe, several pieces of inexpensive jewelry, and a strand of freshwater pearls.
They also find a strange ornamental vial.
And finally, they find a long scroll tube that holds a rolled-up papyrus painting—a self-portrait of an Osirian woman, accompanied by
a signature in Ancient Osiriani that reads "Ariseti".
Djehuti had lagged behind in the room with the ruined books and scrolls, trying his best to inventory the contents by what was left, and only just now caught up, still scribbling in his notebook. He looks down into the chest and nods. "I wouldn't handle the robe just yet. I have a spell that could make it good as new but don't have it prepared. We may want to simply take the chest itself."
Izra estimates the values for the objects to be:
- darkwood chest 80gp
- wedding robe 150gp (if preserved with mending)
- assorted jewelry 35gp
- pearls 200gp
- painting 80gp
Djehuti identifies the ornamental vial as a "Kohl of Uncanny Discernment"
***
Value 1,500 GP
SLOT none
CL 1st
WEIGHT —
The dark cosmetic in this small decorative tube is made from finely ground minerals. Favored by Osirian men and women alike, nonmagical kohl is applied around the eyes and is used to reduce the glare from the desert sun, and cosmetically to cause the whites of the wearer’s eyes to stand out distinctly.
When applied to the eyes, kohl of uncanny discernment grants its wearer low-light vision and a +2 competence bonus on Perception checks. If the wearer already has low-light vision, the kohl doubles the distance the wearer can see. The wearer also gains a +2 resistance bonus on saving throws against gaze attacks, patterns, visual effects, and sight-based attacks. These effects last for 1 hour. Applying the kohl is a full-round action, and it must be applied to both eyes to function. An unopened tube of kohl of uncanny discernment contains 5 applications.
Djehuti smiles and nods as he examines the vial. He holds it up and explains its use and benefits. "Good for noticing things and seeing further in the dark," he finishes.
The Band of the Blackfire walk out of the House of Pentheru, tired, wounded and eager for more adventure. When they arrive at the Tooth and Hookah, they are greeted warmly by Farhaan and Toothy.
"If you tell me your stories. Drinks are on the house, tonight," Farhaan tells you with an almost fatherly affection.
The little crocodile flops in the well excitedly.
Mug in hand, Torin settles in for some serious drinking, while the other spin their yarns.
Over the next few weeks, he works at adding to his pocket change.
Torin figures that the best thing to do is go to the area of the city known as Midwife. This district is the heart of Wati, cradling most of the city’s temples, markets, and professional artisans. Perhaps someone there could recognize the inscription.
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Izra spent a good portion of the down time telling stories. Some at the Tooth and Hookah, for (mostly) appreciative audiences, but also some at the church, at the behest of the Sisters, and some in private booths, or street corners, to "interested parties," willing to pay for information. Some of those "interested parties" received slightly inaccurate, or less complete versions of her stories, depending upon how trustworthy (or competitive) she thought them to be.
Finally, he will go complain about the efficacy of his charms to the seller in the market. :P
Duly mollified by the charm-seller's apologies, and dazzled by his promises and the shiny new charms, Koshukhep barely haggled at all before plunking down more gold than the charm-seller had likely ever seen. "This time I will be invulnerable to the evil spirits!" he rumbled, looking pleased at how they glinted against his fur. Much better than the painted stones! He shook a finger at the seller. "But if they do not work, you will be hearing from me again, even if I have to haunt you!"
Izra manages to track down a jeweler who recalls the young couple.
"So sad. Panhat has been beside herself with grief since she lost her beloved."
The jeweler gives you directions to her family's home.
Though they still haven't mastered the art of working together, Suri and Ahmed manage to create and sell a few sculptures that commemorate their adventure: two marids made of glass, a vargouille made of sand, and a doru made of sand.
Izra manages to track down a jeweler who recalls the young couple.
"So sad. Panhat has been beside herself with grief since she lost her beloved."
The jeweler gives you directions to her family's home.
Izra informed the rest of the group of her discovery, and, resigned to the reality that giving the ring back is "the right thing to do," asks if anyone wants to come along.
Once those who were going were ready, they headed out to find Panhat.
Koshu agreed to come along as well, thinking that his skill at tracking humans might be of use - until Izra mentioned that she knew where Panhat's home was.
"It will be good to return what was lost to the grieving," he grunted, angling his body so that the sunlight glinted on his new charms. "Too many would have taken what was not theirs to keep."
Djehuti puts the finishing touches on his map of the House of Pentheru and includes his own personal accounts of its exploration. The Grand Mausoleum are thrilled by his efforts and reward the Band of the Black Fire an extra 200gp for their diligence.
***
Meanwhile, Ahmed, Izra, Koshukhep, and Suri find themselves at a modest home in the Outer Farms district. The door opens to find a middle-aged man with a black and white oiled beard and modest clothes.
"Yes, may I help you?"
Though she was dressed in her 'local civilian' robes, Izra also took the precaution of using her ability to disguise her features. Not everyone was as used to the myriad of races and peoples that she was. Thus, as she knocked on the door, the blue-green glow faded from her eyes, revealing human-looking (if very lovely) pale-blue irises. Her hair went black, and her skin took on the brown tones of one who has seen time in the harsh Osirian sun.
"Good day, good sir," Izra greeted the man, "My name is Izra, and these are my companions," she introduced each of them appropriately, "I apologize, but we come on a mission of some sadness. Is Panhat at home, by chance?"
"Yes, of course, welcome."
The man asks you inside, and offers you jasmine tea, in a way that makes it impossible for you to turn down.
Just as he begins serving you, Panhat comes from another room. Her clothes show that she is a time of mourning.
"Yes. Can I help you," she asks.
Izra set her tea cup down and stood, politely.
"I am sorry, Panhat, but perhaps it is we who can offer you some small help. That of closure, and certainty, at least. But first, can you tell us, when you last saw your beloved, where was he planning to go?"
Panhet looks stricken for a moment.
"Akar? Well, three months ago. He went missing in the city. He worked there. I had held out hope that he was still alive, but his family declared him dead earlier this month."
Suddenly she looks hopeful.
"By the gods, have you found him? Is he still alive?"
Izra gave the woman a sad look, and merely held out her hand, palm up, with the ring upon it.
"I am sorry, Panhet, but we found his body in the Necropolis."
Koshu shifted uncomfortably where he sat, teacup cupped in his huge paws. "We can retrieve him, if it would grant you and Akar peace."
Kwin's first priority upon exiting the House of Pentheru is to do something about the infernal itching.
The initial phase of which is to take advantage of Farhaan's kind offer and get drunk at the Tooth and Hookah.
... after a hearty breakfast he sets off to find assistance. Asking around, he eventually tracks down an Inquisitor who, despite asking entirely too many questions, seems up to the task. The man asks for a deposit and instructs Kwin to come back the next day after the spell has been prepared.
A day later...
... Kwin returns to the Inquisitor, pays the balance of the 150 GP owed (darned deductables and co-pays), and the spell is cast.
Kwin seems much more at ease when the group gathers for dinner in the evening.
... and manages to turn in a great performance, once again impressing the bandleader, who invites him back the next night. Over the coming weeks, Kwin earns a bit of coin from patrons who enjoy his music -- not only in the tavern at night, but as a street performer.
Too, he impresses occasionally by dancing, a skill developing from the turns, parries, dodges, spins, and thrusts of his near-incessant rapier and sword practice. While he has no interest in being a dancer, he appreciates the synergy with swordplay, and certainly isn't one to turn down money when it's handed to him!
Kwin declines Izra's invitation, feeling he would be out of place in what will surely be a somber discussion. And other than an occasional spin through the shops, he spends most of his days practicing new swordplay techniques and improving his skill with the thrown dagger.
Most of his nights are, of course, spent carousing.
Panhet is overcome with emotion upon seeing the ring and begins to cry. Her father thanks you and offers you 50 gp for returning the ring. He offers another hundred if you bring back the body.
Izra had a quiet word with Panhet's father, away from the grieving widow.
"I'm not entirely sure that you want the body returned," She said, softly. "He did not die in a particularly pleasant fashion, and his head is... missing."
The man looked stricken but pressed on.
"Regardless, we would prepare the body as best we could that the Lady of Graves ushers him properly. Please, I knew that boy since he was a child. He was like a son to me before the wedding."
Torin will refuse the man's money,
"No thank you. If we had been in need of coin, we would have taken the ring to the market. We simply wanted to see it returned to its rightful owner. As for the remains, we can see that they are returned to you, at no cost. We have no need to profit from your loss"
Koshukhep stood and placed a warm paw on Torin's shoulder, whiskers bristling with approval. To Panhet's father, he said, "Know that we do this because it is the right thing."
Then, very carefully, he set the teacup down.
Izra nodded. In agreement with Torin and Koshu, but also in acquiescence to the wishes of Akar's kin.
It will be done, I swear it.
The man is touched and says, “Thank you. A thousand blessings on your house. And know that from this day until the end of my life, you have a servant in Sabul Kintargo.”
The Band of the Black Fire leaves the Kintargo home.
And then the very next day the entire band returns to the House of Pentheru. They quickly retrieve the body of Akar, and wrap him carefully in a blanket. They carry his body and when they arrive at the gates of the Necropolis they find a gathering of people waiting for them. It is Akar’s family and friends. They march down the streets in a makeshift funeral procession. Some sing hymnals to Pharasma, while others pray for his ease into the afterlife.
Eventually the band arrives at the home Panhet shared with Akar. A priestess of Pharasma begins the funerary rites. The family thanks the Band over and over again.
After nearly a month of exploring, archiving, map-making, and outfitting, the band of the Black Fire receive a message from the Grand Mausoleum to report the next day for their next exploration site.
The Band is received by a Pharasmin Priestess. She greets you, thanks you for your diligent work and then shows you to a room with a large map of the necropolis. She points to a spot on the map.
"Pharasma has chosen you for this site. It is an ancient temple to the god of magic, Nethys. There is little else we can tell you other than our records list it at as the 'Sanctum of the Erudite Eye'."
You remember that one of the adventuring groups you met after you explored Akhentepi's Tomb was called the Scorched Hand and they were seeking this very site.
Djehuti nods absently as he takes in the large map, clearly enthralled by the detailed drawing. "Excellent, excellent." It's not clear whether he's talking about the assignment or the map.
"Hey, wasn't there already another team looking for this place? I guess that we just got lucky. Must be all kinds of goodies in there if outsiders have heard of it before."
Kwin frowns. "I don't remember. But I hope it doesn't mean more conflict like the last time."
"What other teams want is irrelevant," the priestess answers bluntly.
"This site was assigned to you by a random draw, so that only the Goddess of Fate may intervene. Rest assured, if you were given this site, it is because Pharasma herself has deemed it so. And if this other group was not, it is also the goddess' will."
Djehuti nods, though he doesn't take his eyes off the map. "The Scorched Hand. I would hope they have the sense not to assault us the way did."