"I have seen this type of shield before," he said, lifting the wooden shield on the left down to examine it more closely. "Warriors from the Mwangi to the south bear them. Those little warrior dolls, they must have been Mwangi in origin as well. What are these doing here, I wonder? Tribute, perhaps?"
Djehuti shakes his head. He gestures at the hieroglyphics on the shield then at the shields the wooden warriors carried. "This says 'Akhentepi'. It seems to indicate that these Mwangi soldiers were under Akhentepi's command."
He looks up at Suri's comment and concentrates on the shield for a moment. "The shield is enchanted- a Scarab Shield. It will ward off swarms and protect against magical death effects."
After a moment he looks over at the sealed chests. "Given that they are chests and not canopic jars they more likely contain personal effects than organs."
Turning towards Koshu he asks, "Mwangi. Can you tell me of this place?"
"Did not the Mwangi exist so long ago?" Koshukhep asked with his ears pricked forward in surprise. "Perhaps it had a different name. It is a land of thick jungles and, from what I hear, lost empires. At least, many treasure hunters head that way from our ports."
To Djehuti, he added, "What use would Akhentepi have for such tiny defenders, I wonder? I thought perhaps his servants had sealed foods for his travel to the afterlife in the containers. Trinkets would be a far better find. But a magic shield, that is a fine thing to have. Who will bear it? Not I - it would weigh my arm down too heavily," he said, flexing his arms - and the claws at the ends of them.
Djehuti shakes his head. "They make no sense as tomb guardians. Perhaps once they could be controlled or were animated to simulate that battle, but after so long now attack anything that moves."
"Yes, I have been that bored as well," Koshukhep nodded sagely. It was hard to tell if he was joking from his feline face.
"Please do warn me the next time that happens, Kosh, so I can stand still," Kwin says with a chuckle.
"A shield would do me no good either," he says as he taps the enchanted one, cocking his head to one side and listening thoughtfully. While running his fingers over its surface he looks over at Koshukhep. "Thick jungles, lost empires and deep magic too, I think. For a time during my journey -- before meeting you -- I traveled with a Pathfinder headed in the same direction. He talked about strong magic smuggled back from Mwangi. Powerful enough to animate monkey..."
His voice trails off for a moment as he looks over at the diorama and the dolls.
"... statues."
"Well folks, we're here for treasure, so why don't we have a look at what's inside these chests."
"You think Akhentepi's servants buried him with Mwangi toys to amuse him in the next world, only the toys got bored instead of him?" Koshukhep chucked Kwin's arm playfully, then hurriedly righted him again with an apologetic pat on the shoulder.
After gaining Torin's assurance that there were no traps, he used a claw to break the seal of one of the containers, opening it cautiously toward the wall - just in case.
Koshu peered into the chest, sniffing, then tilted it to show the others what was inside as well.
Izra had been somewhat distracted, looking at the scattered pieces of the dolls. Eventually, she looked at the shields, but nothing jumped out at her. When the others identified one of the shields as magical, she lifted a hand.
"I can make use of a shield," she said, "and if it does protect from swarms, the middle of the group is a good place for it. Though I'm not a major threat in combat, I look martial enough that perhaps I can draw attacks that would otherwise be directed at some of you who are... more vulnerable."
When Koshu finally opened a chest, she seemed more focused, looking to see what the chest contained.
They contain a sack with a 100 gp and 42 sp, and several scroll tubes holding papyrus records, private memos, expense ledgers, speeches, and private correspondence. Among the papers are discussions regarding the unfinished tomb of Akhentepi’s mistress.
There is little else of interest in the papers, but to a collector or Osirionologist, these documents are worth 250 gp total if undamaged. The clay urn is also sealed with wax and contains nard, an expensive, oily perfume, worth 75 gp.
"Interesting. If we can get it all out of here, to a collector - maybe the church, given the mundane historical relevance - maybe 350. If we sell the perfume with it."
Since no one else seemed to care much, Izra shrugged, and picked up the scarab shield. She made no move to pick up anything heavy.
Djehuti nods at Izra. "We can split it up to distribute the load. Take the shield; Akhentepi can make do with the other two in his afterlife."
Kwin winces and rubs his shoulder. "Kosh, I realize you don't know your own strength. But sadly, I do. Could you maybe rein in your enthusiasm a little? Or at least save it for the baddies?"
He snerks at Djehuti's comment. "If he's right with his god he'll be supplied whatever he needs. And if he isn't, it's not our responsibility to cater to him."
Koshukhep opened his mouth in a panting laugh at Kwin. "Oh, I have more enthusiasm to spare for the baddies!" He clasped his hands with his claws flexed, and winked.
"Hold your shield a little higher, and that khopesh out, and you could fool any foe into thinking you are a warrior," he agreed with Izra. "Just be certain that you actually want to be mistaken for a warrior! Trouble could come your way, up close."
You return to the Foyer and then head South.
You descend a staircase and find an unlocked door. You open it and a massive mirror stretches across the southern wall of this chamber, flanked by two statues. The statue to the east depicts a tall, gaunt woman in a flowing, hooded gown, holding an hourglass. The figure to the west is that of a jackal-headed man carrying a scepter or staff in his hand.
Stone double doors, standing slightly ajar, lead to the east and west. A third set of double doors exits the room to the north. Torch holders sculpted in the shape of bird skulls are built in each corner and a thin layer of dust covers every surface.
The eastern statue is a depiction of Pharasma.
The western statue is Anubis, the ancient Osirian god of burials and tombs.
You find evidence of tracks in the dust between the east and west doors, you believe they belong to crawling insects.
"The lady is Pharasma," Izra said, "The other is Anubis. Apparently, this man's death was important. Important enough for both gods of death and what comes after to be invoked so very many times in his tomb. I wonder why."
She examined the mirror across the way carefully, looking for anything unusual about it.
Koshukhep eyed Anubis for a moment, then bowed low to him, muttering something under his breath. The sharp-eared could hear that it was a prayer for forgiveness for entering his domain.
"Perhaps the scrolls we found could tell us why, after we have finished down here," Koshukhep rumbled. "In the meantime, I hope that shield of yours works, for I see the tracks of insects there, going through the dust." He pointed at the dust between the east and west doors, and grimaced, showing fangs. "I hope it is not a swarm, but we should be prepared."
Kwin's grip on his sword tightens reflexively. "I got caught in a swarm of hornets once. It wasn't pretty."
Izra sees herself along with a human man with bronzed skin in his forties, wearing white ceremonial robes and a headdress. The reflected image appears stern and disapproving.
Izra feels a burning sensation on her forehead that passes quickly.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Djehuti takes in the mirror for a moment. "The mirror is enchanted. It will place an indelible brand on the skin of those who look into it."
Koshu, who had been about to look into it, quickly averted his eyes. "Pah! I do not care to be branded a tomb robber. I am only a guide and a guard," he said, studying the tracks in the dust.
Kwin jerks a thumb at Koshukhep, chuckling. "And I'm with him," he says, taking care not to look into the mirror.
"Of course we're on official business and our visit is sanctioned. But I guess a spell wouldn't know that."
"Well," Izra said, rubbing her forehead, "That could have been unpleasant. I saw a vision of a man, however. A human man, with bronzed skin in his forties, wearing white ceremonial robes and a headdress." She described the vision as best she could.
"Does that sound familiar to anyone?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
The party makes a point to avoid the mirror as they move toward the Western door. The door itself is already slightly ajar. They push it open and find a flight of steps gradually descends to the west down this passage.
Halfway down the stairs, small holes and burrowed tunnels riddle what remains of the passage’s southern wall. Earth and sand have spilled over the collapsed masonry, covering the stairs with dirt and rubble. Stone doors engraved with a golden scarab, its wings open beneath a golden sun, stand at either end of the stairs.
"Before we go further, perhaps we should nip back upstairs and check that door opposite these stairs, Izra suggested, "Just to make sure we have a clear way out when we come back this direction.
Koshukhep examined the golden scarab on the closest door, his fingers tracing the engraving. "A fine idea. Let us save going below for when we know ourselves to have a safe exit," he said agreeably.
Glancing down at the holey wall, he wrinkled his nose. "And when we come back this way, keep your new shield raised. I do not like the look of that wall."
Anxious for the possibility of finding a cure to his affliction, Ahmed glares at the suggestions of the others. "We shouldn't waste any time!" He says adamantly.
"Ahmed," Suri replies softly, waiting for him to meet her eye. "Even if there is something here for you, and you know I pray there is, it isn't necessarily at the lowest point."
She continues, "Besides, Koshu is right. It would not do us well to free you and then become trapped here all the same."
The idea of the others being trapped, even though it's not in the same way, causes Ahmed's eyes to widen, and then cloud over. "No, no of course not." He replies, and then sighs. "My apologies. In my excitement I find myself being reckless."
Djehuti nods at Izra. "Make sure we've explored the entire level first before moving on to the next. Good idea."
"My apologies. In my excitement I find myself being reckless."
Kwin chuckles. "Funny, Da always told me that was an affliction of youth." His grin turns to a frown as he adds, "He sure accused me of it enough times."
"But one thing I learned early on: If there are unknowns, 'sit with your back to a corner.' 'Secure your flank,' I guess Da would say. Safer to take our time and be sure there's nothing lurking behind us as we move forward... or downward."
He frowns again. "Or at least, as much as that's possible."
The Band of Black Fire moves past the mirror room again and heads towards the Eastern Door.
The door into this next room is also slightly ajar. And when you look inside you find that pillars line the walls of this rectangular chamber, interspersed with stone jackal heads extending from the walls. A stone altar, covered in a layer of dust, sits at the eastern end of the room. The heads appear to be torch holders.
The altar is dedicated to the ancient Osirian god Anubis, patron of embalmers and guardian of tombs, and the funerary masks on the walls depict him.
You finds tracks in the dust on the floor similar to those in the mirror room. They appear to be hundreds of crawling insects.
"More Anubis. The masks depict him. The altar is dedicated to him. Thistomb is well guarded by a God dedicated to such things."
Djehuti, as usual, scribbles in his notebook as he attempts to capture the layout of the tomb and depictions of the various rooms.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"This was probably the embalming room," Izra said, "Just based on the layout and the iconography. So this is likely where Akhentepi was embalmed - and his cats, too, come to think of it."
Suddenly, two creatures that look like a cross between a spider and a scorpion appear from behind the altar with obvious ill intent.
These are giant solifugids. Also known as camel spiders. They are classified as vermin and are quite deadly.
Koshukhep Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Torin Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Kwin Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Izra Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Ahmed Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Djehuti Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Suri Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Creature Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
"Whoa," breathes Kwin quietly as he sees the odd things skittering towards the group.
Given the clearly hostile intent of the advancing creatures, Kwin decides to take the fight to them before they can close on the group.
"Back off, bugs!" he barks as he rushes into the chamber, uchigatana flashing as he twirls it one-handed before committing to an attack swing.
"Beware! Giant bugs!" Koshu howled helpfully. He leapt into the path of the nearest one, slashing with his black claws.
Kwin and Koshukhep spring forward and attack the first creature. And between the two of them managed to render it completely. It makes a high-pitched squeal as it shudders and dies.
Ahmed and Suri close in on the creature, but are unable to get close enough to attack. After his last bout with a scorpion, Ahmed is perfectly fine with this, though he wishes he could remember some of his more offensive magic.
Djehuti starts moving in an instant, pulling an arrow from his quiver and loosing at one of the creatures just after he ducks into the room.
Izra moved with the rest of the group, slipping to the wall opposite Djehuti was moving to. Her sling was out and in her hand, but she did not launch an attack, as she had no clear shot between her companions. With a sigh, she realized that she may, indeed, need to start waving that khopesh at enemies, if she was to be of use in battle.
Instead, she did as she had done previously, and summoned a deluge of water to land on the creature's head. Hopefully, that would blind it to Djehuti's arrow.