WR Mummy's Mask

Game Master wicked_raygun

I'll have Ahmed and Suri sit this one out for the moment to move things along.

Round 5

Koshukhep: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Senenmerek: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Djehuti: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Kwin: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Torin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
***
Khelru: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
***
Izra: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Suri: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Ahmed: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Bold are up.

Koshukhep sprang at Khelru, golden eyes narrowed and trailing a stink of burnt catfolk fur. His paw whipped out, claws outspread.

charge + nimble striker UAS: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26
dmg: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Honored Senenmarek, bring an end to this defiler!" he snarled.

"Witness true power."

Senenmerek releases his spear, allowing it to float in the air for a moment, and then with a thought he launched it telekinectically at Khelru.

Spear vs. Khelru: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Activating cool weapon ability to add +1 to attack, which hits.

Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

The spear impacts Khelru in the chest sending him hurtling toward the wall. The spear pierces through the armor, and nails the cleric into the stone itself. Khelru stares at Senenmerek in hirror, as his life drips away. As soon as Khelru stops struggling, Senenmerek wills the spear back into his hand.

"It is done."

Combat over.

Unwitting of Izra's dark thoughts, Koshukhep turned and bowed deeply to Senenmarek, one hand over his heart. "Truly, you are a great guardian to this holy place, honored Senenmarek. What is it that you believe the defilers were after?"

Izra watched as the undead "guardian" spited the last of their opponents with his flying spear.

"It is hurt. We need to destroy it," she whispered to Torin, even as the magical spear returned to Senenmerek's bony hand. "It will kill us as it did them, just as soon as Djehuti's spell of friendship expires. Our only hope is to attack now, while it doesn't expect us, and while it is weakened from the fight."

Just the contemplation of destroying Senenmerek caused Izra's stomach to calm, and strength started to return to her limbs. She knew that the moment she actually took action, her Goddess would bless her again, and remove her weakness.

Shadows began to flicker around her, as Izra reached for her power.

Mostly fluff at this point, but she's prepping Protective Penumbra, which will be followed by an attack with CMW if Torin gives her any sign that he's willing to back her play.

Moving into an attack position, Kwin is in a perfect spot to watch the final strikes. After a blink of surprise and realizing it's over, the tension flows out of his body and he slumps.

"Izra," he says through a grimace of pain, "I could use a poke or two from that wand. Please."

When did Kwin get hurt? How did I miss that? Depending on what happens in the next little bit, she'll probably come "poke"

He's been hurt for a good long while -- since back when we were fighting the statue. (Suri considered it pounding Kwin to a pulp a convenient "distraction" as I recall, harrumph). But he played it down earlier for expediency's sake -- we had stuff to do! Here's the turn-down.

I figure the sudden release of tension (he doesn't see Serenmerek as a threat) would be when he'd realize how badly banged up he is. You know, like how sometimes a wound doesn't hurt until you notice you're bleeding...

Torin is indifferent to the undead. If Izra attack, he'll back her up, since if we destroy it, he can loot it. Torin is the epitome of dwarven greed and covetousness.

What a shame. I think I was starting to ship Koshukhep/Senenmerek. ;-)

Izra looked at Kwin, and nodded. Then she reached out to her Goddess, and the flickering bits of shadow in the room seemed to stretch and leap from wherever they were...towards Izra. Her eyes - always that glowing blue - burst into blazing cerulean flame. But the light, rather than revealing her face, seemed only to make the shadows around her grow even darker. As she finished the last words of her prayer, Izra's body dissolved into living shadow, flickering and dancing with a life of its own, completely ignoring any source of light. From the shadowed darkness, there was a soft, blue glow.

The shadow and the glow moved silently towards Kwin, and from it, the magical wand extended, to tap him on the nose.

"We need to destroy it," the shadow whispered to Kwin, "While it is damaged, before Djehuti's spell wears off, and it sees us as a threat again."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 SEE? Pharasma (and the RNG) have blessed Kwin with max healing! Surely, the Gods support the destruction of the undead abomination!... or something. In any case, Kwin gets 9hp back.

Change to heal Kwin first, for two reasons. 1) It's the weekend, so I'm giving those who don't normally play on the weekends a chance to catch up and say something before I commit us to what may be a nasty fight, and 2)If we do have said nasty fight, Kwin having more hp seems like a good idea. :-)

Koshu has an "I <3 Senenmarek" tattoo under his fur. :P

He's not a paladin or anything, but he's still against doing anything he considers dishonorable - like attacking an (erstwhile) ally, even if it's only the magic talking. If we could find a way to release Big S from his duty peaceably, or if it turns on us, he'd be willing to act.

I seriously need to settle on a tense for this game!

Kwin shrank back as the shadow formed and approached, watching it warily. This was not a thing he remembered seeing from Izra before! But he relaxed slightly as it brought forth a wand to soothe some of his hurt.

His ears twitched as the shadow spoke. "What? What?" he hissed as his eyes flicked between the shadow and Izra and the guardian. "Why would we do that? It was fighting on our side!"

"Uh... wasn't it?" he finished lamely, as he realized he'd only heard the scuffle for the most part, and didn't really see what had happened.

Yeah, Kwin has no tattoos but he's gotta side with his furry compadre on this one.

Well, except for the "anything dishonorable" part. You know, generally speaking. Because sometimes you just can't pass up a good opport... *cough*... never mind.

And: Thanks, Izra!

We'll we did charm it, so it's not like it's our friend because we're buddies.

Yes, and then it got to watch us fight alongside it against a common enemy while the spell simmered. We've proven ourselves true, and I don't expect the thing to become a rabid dog the moment the spell wears off. If it has any ability at all to reason -- which it seems it does -- then it should understand now we're on its side.

Maybe I'm overconfident because we talked down the other guardian, but I think we should give it a chance. It's not like some random mindless marauding undead; it's doing a job -- and an arguably honorable one, at that.

Plus, "You can trust us, we're your friends! <Quick, stab it in the back!>" just doesn't sit right with me.

For the record, Izra never said she was its friend, and she's suffering because allowing the group to ally with it is breaking a vow she made long before we ever met this thing. Before she met any of you folks, in fact. ;-)

From a Player's POV, I get it. Which is why I delayed her actually attacking the thing, so as to give you guys a chance to talk her down, and/or for it to give us a reason to attack. But she really wants to destroy it, and will need to be talked down. Especially since she's already used a spell for that purpose (and plans to use at least one more). With a 50% miss chance against her, and a decently high AC to start with, and a bashing weapon (and positive energy), she feels like she might just be able to take it out herself, and if even half of the party helps her (and no one actively hinders her), it's almost assured. I think she's punching above her weight class, but what do I know?

Djehuti watched with interest as Izra seemingly transformed herself into a shadow to heal Kwin. "That is an interesting effect, Izra. Does it provide some improvement to your healing abilities?"

His ears twitched as the shadow spoke. "What? What?" he hissed as his eyes flicked between the shadow and Izra and the guardian. "Why would we do that? It was fighting on our side!"

"Uh... wasn't it?" he finished lamely, as he realized he'd only heard the scuffle for the most part, and didn't really see what had happened.

He looked oddly at Kwin. "Excuse me? Why would we do what?"

I like how Izra has so far avoided mentioning attacking Seremerek to Koshu or DJ. Like I've said before, he sees Serenmerek as having made the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his afterlife to protect an ancient tomb forever. He's totally on the undead's side here. That's the smart play, trying to pull support from the teammates who might vote with you.

Turning into a shadow and whispering into people's ears may not be the best way to engender trust in others, though. ;)

The shadow effect was supposed to happen just before she attacks, but Kwin distracted her. :-) As for who she's talked to, part of that was strategic, as you suggested, but mostly it's a function of those two being the only two she's been close enough to whisper with to this point. After all, having the discussion at regular volume where the intended target can hear you seems...unwise.

Izra's glowing eyes met Djehuti's, and the shadow drifted closer to him. "When does your spell expire?" her voice whispered to him, "The undead will likely try to destroy us as soon as it realizes that it has been swayed by magic. We should destroy it now, before it turns upon us."

Djehuti frowned at Izra and responded in an equally hushed tone. "Several days. More than enough time for us to survey the rest of the tomb and leave; there is little danger of the spell failing while we are still here."

It's 1 day/level, for anybody wondering.

Does Senenmarek answer Koshu, Ray?

The shadow that was Izra shook her head. "That is fine for us, but what if the Church comes here to follow up on our discoveries? Priests of Pharasma will not be greeted so kindly, I think. Especially after it realizes that we tricked it. It is damaged now, why wait? Whoever it once was, they have served well, and it is now time to reward their spirit by releasing it to the Boneyard, and letting the Church take over its watch."

Izra eyed the undead talking to Koshukhep, hoping that the Catfolk warrior would keep it distracted.

Torin, pulls Izra aside, and whispers, "Just leave them to their ideals, lass. Let the church know when were done. If yon bone man needs dealing with, let them take care of it. No need to risk our own skins."

Djehuti frowned. "Little reward in ending his vigil before his task is done. I doubt Nethys will look as kindly on his end as your Lady." He nodded at Kwin. "It was our ally, and a more than helpful one. Let us show our respect by removing the invaders from the tomb and withdrawing in peace."

Izra sighed.

"Undead," she called to the abomination, "You. Guardian. Are the invaders destroyed? Or are there more?"

She's totally going to have the discussion with DJ about this, later. :-)

"Truly, you are a great guardian to this holy place, honored Senenmarek. What is it that you believe the defilers were after?"

Senenmerek shrugs. "Trinkets. Perhaps secrets of the All-Seeing Eye. It matters not. All who enter this place must perish."

"Undead," she called to the abomination, "You. Guardian. Are the invaders destroyed? Or are there more?"

"No," Senenmerek says in an odd tone. "Only you remain."

Kwin looked at Djehuti and nodded back solemnly.

She's totally going to have the discussion with DJ about this, later. :-)

If he has any say about it, Kwin will be in on that conversation! :op

Senenmerek shrugs. "All who enter this place must perish."

"No," Senenmerek says in an odd tone. "Only you remain."

I do believe he's planning to kill us.

Ahmed takes a few moments to inspect Suri's wounds, and her his, before turning to Senemerek, and bowing. "Thank you, honoured guardian. Your god is fortunate to have someone as dedicated as you protecting this place."

Djehuti gives Serenmerek a deep, respectful bow. "You have performed your duty admirably, Guardian. When we leave we will take the intruders' corpses so they do not defile this holy place any longer. Might they have penetrated further into this complex?"

Are there any more rooms or was this the last one?

It's a fun disagreement. DJ only cares because he's a medjai, which I just stole from the Mummy movies. Of course, if Serenmerek attacks us DJ has no problem with defending himself.

"Perhaps these intruders did not. But I am unsure how much further the first intruder was able to penetrate."

Another moment of hesitation.

"I could open the way for you, if you would like to see."

Djehuti nods. "Please. If there was another intruder we should investigate to see if they penetrated further than these were able to."

Okay, so much for my theory; clearly it will become a rabid dog as soon as the spell drops. Still, Kwin will remain a starry-eyed optimist. :o)

And yeah, I agree, Djehuti: Fun disagreement, good ops coming for roleplay. I have some choice naive teen ideals to sling at Izra when the time comes. :o)

Of course that's if the conversation happens at the inn before he gets plastered on pulque...

This whole thing has been gloriously ridiculous if you ask me. I am 100% making everything up as I go along, because no way did the book think you would try controlling the undead abomination.

Oh, and before we move along...

#Loot

On Azaz
• potion of cure light wounds
• potion of hide from undead
• scroll of burning hands (CL 2nd)
• scroll of flaming sphere
• scroll of identify
• scroll of levitate
• scroll of magic missile
• scroll of shocking grasp (CL 2nd)
• wand of grease (10 charges)
• wand of vanish (9 charges)
• club
• daggers (2)
• small steel mirror
• spell component pouch
• wooden holy symbol of Nethys
• spellbook

Ahmed, has Read Magic so you know what the scrolls and spellbook say. I'm not going to bother with spellcraft for the wands because, oy, I'll be here forever, and Critical Role is on in a few. And, frankly, you guys killed a lot of folks here.

#Loot on Idorii

• acid
• alchemist’s fire (2)
• +1 leather armor
• chakrams (3)
• kukri
• mwk khopesh
• backpack
• mwk thieves’ tools
• sunrods (2)
• 5 gp

#Loot on Khelru

• scrolls of bless (2)
• scroll of cure moderate wounds
• scroll of effortless armor
• scroll of hold person
• scroll of magic weapon
• scroll of sound burst
• wand of cure light wounds (26 charges)
• alchemist’s fire (2)
• holy water (2)
• scale mail
• mwk quarterstaff
• sling with 14 bullets
• everburning torch
• spell component pouch
• wooden holy symbol of Nethys
• 29 gp

#Loot on Velriana

• alluring golden apple
• scroll of charm person
• scroll of invisibility
• scroll of magic missile
• scroll of warding weapon
• wand of scorching ray (6 charges)
• wand of shield (9 charges)
• dagger
• light crossbow with 10 bolts
• bracers of armor +1
• ioun torch
• backpack
• explorer’s outfit
• signet ring
• silver holy symbol of Nethys
• spell component pouch
• spellbook

Woohoo! Wands, scrolls, and spellbooks! This is DJ's kind of loot! I'll post in Discussion so we can talk about distribution. Also pretty happy I was able to throw us totally off-book with Serenmerek, DM. :)

I agree, going off-plot was awesome. Thumbs up!

Koshukhep laid all the dead in a row, with their arms folded on their chests and their holy symbols prominent on them. Then he nodded to the others.

"More of this sort? Yes, let us be rid of them."

"Indeed," Izra sighed, as she "helped Koshukhep with the bodies." The shadow surrounding her flickered, and eventually she returned to her normal appearance.

Said appearance included looking somewhat sickly, and keeping an eye on their skeletal "ally."

Senemerek stands by silently as the Band of the Black Fire begin to loot the corpses of the tomb robbers. Eventually, the Band awkwardly make their way to a room they passed earlier.

Area D18

A large, star-shaped fountain with a circular basin in the center occupies most of this octagonal chamber, surrounded by a ring of stones engraved with hieroglyphs. Roaring blue flames rise from the basin to almost touch the ceiling. The area is separated from the rest of the complex by a metal gate just to the south, which the band opened without a problem.

Djehuti carefully sketches out the room in his sketchbook.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Perc: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

"We got ourselves a secret door over here."

Opening it up, he looks at the statue, "Hmmm....Is this thing worth anything?"

Djehuti walks over to look at the figure.

What do the hieroglyphics say? Is the figure Nethys again or somebody else?

Appraise: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Izra gave the statue an appraising look.

"Djehuti is documenting this. No need to be hauling statues about. Likely it is sacred to Nethys." Koshukhep made a sign of respect to the new god, in case the deity was upset by their poking about. Then he leaned in the doorway to see what the hieroglyphics said together with Djehuti.

Kwin bobbed around behind the others trying to catch a glimpse, but remained in the rear.

This pool is a near twin to the Pool of Protection on the ground floor (area D2a), and the Ancient Osiriani hieroglyphs that encircle the fountain identify it as such.

"That statue is the Keystone of the Ahkhat, the guardian spirit tasked with maintaining the temple," Senenmerek says.

The Keystone is too big to be easily carried.

Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Djehuti nods. "We have encountered the akhat. Thank you, Guardian. Who was interred here, to merit such enduring protection?"

"No one is interred here. The flames in the water are an illusion. Beneath is cool, clean water. They are a blessing from Nethys. Spell casters would drink from the fountain to empower their magic."

Assuming someone asks more about the keystone...

"The keystone commands the Ahkhet. Simply speak into it and you can control it."

Anyone want a drink? Or do we move on?

Ahmed looks at the fire and water cautiously, before bowing deeply to Senenmerek. "Would we be permitted to drink from the water? I do not want to presume or to insult."