WR Mummy's Mask

Game Master wicked_raygun

In contrast to the rest of the tomb, this rough earthen passage is not lined with masonry. At various points along the tunnel, sections of the walls have crumbled, as if something had dug small tunnels in the walls that subsequently collapsed.

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Shrinking back from the water in cautious concern, Ahmed and Suri move back towards the Sarcophagus, peering once more into it. "Strange." Ahmed whispers quietly, his brow furrowed. Suri looks at him questioningly, wondering what he might be thinking, but he simply shakes his head. As Torin and Kwin open the door to the tunnel, his face darkens more. "Stranger." he mutters.

Suri looks over towards Kwin, giving a shudder, not for the first time in this room. "Any idea what's down there?" she asks, hesitating to walk through.

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Know:nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Koshukhep sniffed audibly, his ears twitching this way and that as he tried to determine if there was an immediate threat.

"Beetles, maybe. Stay alert."

Using Scent to try to identify if there are beetles, where and how many, if possible.

Kwin shakes his head in response to Suri's question as he stares wordlessly down the tunnel.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Whoa!

Koshukhep definitely smells beetles. He recognizes the scent from earlier. Get me a Survival check to Track them, or you can barge on in.

Map has been updated.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Koshukhep finished his sniffing with a snort. "Yes, beetles. I am sure of it. Do you want me to go in and draw them out?"

If the answer to that is "yes," Koshu will move down to where he believes the beetles are, then ready an action to withdraw back into the chamber (hopefully with the beetles in tow), where everyone can have fun poking at bugs.

Perception, just in case: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

"Good idea," Suri remarks. "I am... unaccustomed to fighting in such close quarters." This draws a glance from Ahmed, who says nothing, but nods along with the plan.

Djehuti nods and stows away his notebook, pulling out his bow and fitting an arrow to the string. "Strange to leave an unfinished tunnel in an otherwise finished tomb. Why would they have done that?"

"Maybe because they ran into... beetles?" Kwin asks. "Kosh, can your nose tell us how many? If it's thousands, perhaps we'd best not disturb them."

Izra's eyes narrowed as she looked down the tunnel.

"Shall I help to block the stairs?" She lifted her shield, and an eyebrow.

Koshukhep moves forward and then dives back, and sure enough two mining beetles stir from beneath the loose dirt and begin moving in aggressively.

Torin Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Kwin Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Ahmed Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Djehuti Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Izra Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
Beetles Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Koshukhep Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Suri Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Bold is up. Map has been updated.

"Stupid vermin."

Torin fires an arrow at the beetles, but it flies wide.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 4 = 3

In a room is one thing, but Kwin is NOT running into that relatively narrow passage to head-on the beetles! He'll stand his ground and ready an uchigatana attack for when one of the bugs comes within striking range.

Kwin grumbles under his breath and grips his sword more tightly, intent on attacking as the first beetle comes within reach.

Djehuti moves up to fire down the hall over Koshu's shoulder.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

I deleted a post where I added a penalty for firing into melee, before I realized nobody's in melee yet.

Just FYI, there is no such thing as shooting over a shoulder. Unless you stand in front of Koshu, he provides the bugs with cover, thus a -4 to hit.

Izra stood her ground, seeing that the hallway was full. She kept her shield ready, but left the clumsy-feeling khopesh at her belt for now, trusting to her connection with the divine. At least until she actually saw an enemy.

She'll hold her actions

Ahmed takes a step into the room, brandishing his sickle, but is unable to get close enough to the doorway to attack the beetles. Instead, he waits at the ready.

Oh, man, that was a long arduous con. I'm only now recovering from all the clean up. But I'm back from outer space...Wait, I hear a music cue of some sort...

The initial volley from Torin Djehuti miss their marks. The beetles move in closer.

The first beetle attacks Koshukhep and opens a wide gash in the ranger's leg.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Everyone is up.

Rn 2

Torin fires another arrow,

Twang: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 4 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Izra couldn't see the enemy, but she could see what it did to Koshukhep, and she frowned. Reaching for the power of Pharasma, she stepped forward to touch the big warrior on the hip, whilst trying not to get in his way.

"I haven't much ability to heal remaining," Izra warned the others, "we should fall back, let the beast enter, where we can surround it!"

Feeling the cold ache in her bones that warned her she was reaching the edge of her ability to endure Pharasma's power for the day, Izra nevertheless raised her Khopesh and shield, ready to hold the line and help her companions as best she could.

Cast CLW, 5' step, touch Koshu. M/E: Draw MW Khopesh. (Map updated shortly.) Status Update, she has 1 CLW left, and that only if she doesn't use Shield of Faith. She's not much for Melee with this Khopesh, but she can Aid Another with it, and provide flanking, and I think she still has the highest AC of anyone in the party.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Step back, Izra!" Kwin calls out in concern as he sees her adopt a fighting posture. "Don't put yourself at risk!"

I know one can't five foot step "through a corner" but I'm not sure about striking past one. Seems it might be possible, perhaps with a cover penalty? If not, he'll just continue to wait for an opening.

Corners give hard Cover. And prevent AoO's

Remaining behind Koshu, Djehuti aims and fires at the beetle again.

Attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

I thought the idea was to lure the beetles into the big room (with the sarcophagus) so everyone could attack them? Oh well. The best laid plans...

Enraged at the effrontery of the beetle for daring to bite him, Izra's healing did nothing to calm Koshukhep's ire. Even had he been able to back away, it was unlikely he would have done so. He slashed at the beetle's carapace with a deep basso snarl (and also his claws).

claw #1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

claw #2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

One paw scraped harmlessly across the chitinous plates, but the other managed to pry loose part of the beetle's armor and leave a deep gouge in the loathesome musculature beneath it. Koshukhep withdrew his claws with something squishy caught in them, and shook his hand to let it fall to the floor with a wet squelch.

I thought the idea was to lure the beetles into the big room (with the sarcophagus) so everyone could attack them?

Fair enough. We just look all crammed together in the side room on the map. I'm definitely not complaining about those rolls! :D

And you shouldn't because... Koshukhep rips open one of the beetles, killing it instantly. The other beetle crawls over its fallen brethren to attack Koshukhep.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

At this point, I think we can all see the writing on the wall, so let's go ahead and end this.

The Ranger executes another series of strikes and kills the final beetle. He is covered from head to toe in its yellow, goopy innards. Bon apetit.

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All praise to the dicebot! :D

Koshukhep, having finally calmed down with the evisceration of the foe, backed away with a grimace of disgust as its yellow, goopy innards dripped from his fur.

"This wasn't the blood I imagined spilling in our pursuits," he muttered plaintively, wiping slime off his arms. He took one of his waterskins from the side of his pack and upended it over his head, sluicing the worst of the mess off.

Not satisfied, but no longer quite as disgusted/ing, he wrinkled his nose and looked at the others. "I hope something worthwhile lies down that tunnel," he grumped.

"You could go take a bath in the other room, I suppose," Izra said, indicating the door behind them, which had poured water onto the floor earlier. "Or," she wiggled her fingers, "I can give you a shower-bath where you stand." Her smile was slightly odd-looking beneath her glowing blue eyes, but friendly nonetheless.

"Yes, please pour your magic water over me. I cannot get much wetter," Koshukhep said, quite erroneously as it turned out.

Looking fairly bedraggled with his mane plastered to his head and neck (but at least rid of most of the goop), he gave Kwin a warning look. "Not a word, little fox. Not a word."

Stepping primly out of the pool of goopy water, shaking each foot as he lifted it out, he went to investigate the tunnel, with an aloof expression that made him look for all the world as though he had intended to be soaking wet all along.

Catfolk. XD

How did you know I was going to post a smirk? :o)

Grinning ear to ear, Kwin raises a hand in protest. "Who, me? Never." he chuckles.

Once it's clear that the threat is past, Djehuti stows his bow and pulls out his notebook again to jot down notes about the passageway. He looks briefly at his in-progress map. "Unless there is a room there, it should lead back to that unfinished hallway we saw earlier."

Unless there's something hidden there, Koshukhep returned looking put out. "The doors, then," he rumbled, gesturing down the stairs.

Nah, this side passage is empty. It was meant as a way to circumvent the trapped flood room.

The Band enters the room at the bottom of the stairs. And they find that this room holds several neatly arrayed chests, boxes and urns.

However you do not find a body.

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know:religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Izra looked over the chests briefly. "This should be his wealth and items he would need while awaiting Pharasma's judgment. But he's not here..." She trailed off, as her eyes scanned the walls and ceiling. Then she smiled widely, and pointed at the East wall.

"There is a door hidden there. I'd bet the body is behind it."

"Nice find there!" Turning to Kwin he adds, "Might be trapped. Why don't you go take a look?"

Forgot to add this part.

Most of the goods in the chests, such as once-fine clothing and sealed jars of food, no longer have any value after the passage of centuries, but among the spoiled and ruined grave goods are several salvageable items of value, including:

#Loot

• 2 vials of silversheen
  
• masterwork longbow
  
• 10 cold iron arrows
  
• gold scarab clasp worth 50 gp
  
• onyx and silver holy symbol of Pharasma worth 100 gp
  
• silver hand mirror worth 35 gp
  
• wax-sealed clay urn of nard worth 75 gp
  

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 For the spoiler of 12:49 PM

Kwin glances at Torin, searching for the glint of humor in his eyes. Finding none, he walks over to the area Indicates and, looking uncomfortable, carefully studies the wall.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"Looks clear," he says a bit uncertainly as he steps away.

Funnily enough, just as Kwin steps away he notices the faint tell-tale runes of a magical trap. Disable Device DC 22.

Detect Magic is a good policy in a new room. :-)

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Yes it is. I use it a lot. You know, when I actually play characters who have that spell. ;-)

You guys are pretty close to leveling up actually. The next room is literally the last one. And if I'm not mistaken you can pick up a new orison at level 2. So you should definitely pick it up. Infinitely useful.

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Oh cool, Ahmed can finally actually do something useful.

As Kwin turns back to the trap, Ahmed closes his eyes to feel the energy in the air, struggling to feel despite his bonds.

"Be careful." He says to Kwin, without opening his eyes. "There's magic here. Might well be the beetles Koshu is so fond of wearing are the least of our troubles."

Added the loot to the loot sheet. Torin is stealing the longbow and arrows. Composite shortbow is back on the loot list.

I deliberately didn't take Detect Magic for Izra because I figured she's the "go through stuff after the others find it" lady. I assumed Ahmed would have it. ;-) If no one else minds, she'll carry the holy symbol around her neck. Happy to throw it in the loot pile for sale after, but it might be useful in here for now.

"After going through so much effort to hide the body," Izra said,"it would make sense that they might hide it behind magical protections."

Aw, I was just going to do that. Oh, well, Djehuti will do it anyway. Cast Detect Magic.

Know:Arcana check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Djehuti murmurs a whisper of power under his breath, willing the magical auras of the assembled items to reveal themselves to him. He looks up from the items at Ahemed's warning and notices the aura. "Conjuration magic, from what I see. It could summon more beetles, I suppose. It could do something else."

Shaking his head as he returns to the wall, Kwin starts to point out the foolishness of him checking for traps when Torin is so much better at it. But then he pauses and cuts his long-time traveling companion a suspicious glance. Perhaps the dwarf had already spotted the trap, and was trying to give Kwin a chance to practice... and build confidence.

With a single, silent nod to Torin, he turns his attention to something he's confident he can do well. A few minutes after his tool roll is opened...

Disable Device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 Boom doesn't go the magical dynamite!

... there's a quiet but immensely satisfying click. Kwin steps aside as he rerolls his tools. "Good to go. Who wants it?"

Curses! Foiled again! This one was actually

Kwin manages to undo the magical trap with no ill effects. He then opens the hidden door and the Band moves in. There is a long corridor and then an unlocked door.

A sarcophagus covered in gold leaf rests on a raised stone platform in the center of this chamber. The casket’s cover is carved the likeness of an adult man with his arms crossed over his chest, and covered in thick coat of dust. Two ornate chests sit beyond the dais in the northeast and southeast corners, and between them stand two large funerary urns. The sole exit is the door from which you entered.

An iron cobra lurking behind the stone dais and sarcophagus, raises up menacingly as the Band enters.

Iron Cobra Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Ahmed Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Koshukhep Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Izra Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Djehuti Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Kwin Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Suri Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Torin Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Well, what do you know the cobra wins initiative.

It slithers along at an awe-inspiring speed for such a small creature. It rears up and bites Suri, injecting her with burning poison.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Fortitude Save, DC 11: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Constitution Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Suri's HP is now 6/13. Everyone else can go now.

Is the thing actually made of iron?

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Yep. It's a construct.