Round 2
"Mama D!"
Kamari takes a 5' step and lays into the dancer.
Round 2, Init 18
AC = 25
HP = 84/84
Weapon Equipped = Good Bow
Condition(s) = Inspiration
AC = 29
HP = 99/99
Weapon Equipped = Teef
Condition(s) = None
Muri feels the elf's words begin to vibrate his bowstring, so he fires repetitively on the angel, hoping Madame Lotheed is still this side of the Veil.
"Really hard to fight and run. It's designed pretty good. Try and retreat, and trigger a trap."
The Night Swan steps into a flank with Kamari, also leaving a free lane to shoot for Muri and the Major.
HP: 118/118
AC: 34/14/33
Saves: F14/R14/W15 (+2 vs ingested/inhaled diseases)
Hero Points: 2
Spells/Conditions Active: Fastidiousness
0: (Grasp, Light, Oath of Anonymity, Spark)
1: 1/3 used (Fastidiousnessx1, Serren’s Swift Girdingx0)
[ dice]1d20+20[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+9[/dice] damage.
Round 2
Kort shoots 'normal-ish' bolts at the creature, using Elen’s poetic inspiration as inspiration.
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
hp: 108/108
AC: 21/16/17
Saves: F9/R14/W13 +4 vs. enchantment, +2 vs. illusions +6 vs. poison
Lowlight. PBS.
Aroden's Verve: 0/8 used
Adhere to the Law: 0/3 used
Extend Rods: 3/6 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
0: (create water, detect magic/poison, light, stabilize,read magic)
1: 0/11 used (CLW*0,Shield*0,PfE*0,DF*0)
2: 2/11 used (Inv*0,RE*1,*CE*0,SInv*1,LesRest*0)
3: 4/9 used (H*2,DM*0,DayBreakArrow*1, MCaE10'*1)
4: 0/6 used (GrInv*0,CCW*0,FoM*0)
5: 0/2 used (CLWM*0,FlStr*0)
[ dice]1d20+8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6-1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+15+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+15+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+10+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
[ dice]1d20+5+2+1[/dice] to hit; (+PBS,+heroism)
magic cold iron damage; (clustered)
touch to hit; (heroism,PBP)
fire damage
Elen dances into an attack staying out of the archers ranges.
for
Hits: 84/84
Current AC: 30
Current Saves: Fort: +12; Ref +11; Will: +8, +10 if Enchant (Elf) (+2 cloak)
Current AC: 30 [ooc] +2 Amulet, +4 Mage Armor]
(Normal) AC: 22 (Bare naked save for Mask and Dodge)
flat: 18 (ring +2, nat armor +1, mage armor +4)
touch: 24 (ring +2, Dex +5, Cha +6, Dodge +1)
CMD = 30
WandofMageArmorCharges = 29/50
Wand of CLW: 25/50
Resolve = 8/8
Challenge = 5/5
Hero Pts: 3/3
Muri tags it twice, the adamantine heads burying deep into the mechanics. Kamari, seeing Mama D go down, goes indiscriminately nuts. She hits every time, and confirms the critical! She does as much in one round as everyone has done the whole fight. And still it does not go down… (DR applied) Edelmira makes a single connection, chiseling off a little more (DR). Elen dances by for another wallop. Mama D manages to just keep her feet against the angel’s attacks as Major Kort hits once, but manages to still do a little over DR! Just enough.
The angel cannot withstand the onslaught and crumbles in a pile of gears at your collective feet his sword dropping as well, and becoming non-magical.
As there is nothing further to be learned from the Hall of History (though you may return to refer to things later), so you press on. The south passage is blocked by another magical trap, so we’ll start with the east.
Five stone sarcophagi with relief carved covers rest in this irregularly shaped hall. Painted scenes of battle and construction wind around the room, spanning nearly from floor to ceiling. A sprawling floor mosaic portrays a map of the eastern Inner Sea region.
While the tomb as a whole celebrates Taldaris, this room honors the thousands of civilians, heroes, and soldiers, who built a new empire during the Age of Destiny. A trio of mirrored candelabras similar to those in Hall of History hangs in this room, providing normal light within moments after someone enters the room. Welcome to the Hall of Heroes.
Kamari considers the pile of gears for a moment before deciding not to collect anything. She pulls out her wand and heals up before moving on.
She peers untrustingly into the Hall of Heroes expecting more trouble.
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Kort moves over to check on Mama D, not sure if she stands or has fallen. He will offer her healing in place of angry hisses of rebuke for being so foolish and getting too close.
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
CLW
"Now, what were you thinking?" Kort asks, having held his tongue for at least 12*6 seconds, and still angry at being so worried so quickly by Mama D's return.
Elen waits for Kort and Mama D. to be ready then follows along behind.
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Muri retrieves an arrow where he can, before returning to the three doors in close proximity to each other, and starts opening them. He starts with the northern door.
"I don't think she had a chance to think, Professor. That thing was quick, and the room is small enough for it to reach any of us. And her lightning was welcome."
Skipping the Hall of Heroes for the moment, Muri investigates what turns out to be a large storage closet. This small room stored many of the candles, formal outfits, cleaning supplies, and other tools necessary to maintain the site. After nearly 2,000 years, almost everything here has disintegrated to dust.
Almost.
He finds four vials of holy water fallen into a pile of altar cloths. Ancient, they’re worth 200gp each for their historical value. You also find eight full applications of unguent of timelessness in a dented tin.
Lastly, another tin has Andoren Pepperwood, a tree whose wood rarely warps and whose speckled bark was the foundation for incense. Zealous lumberjacks felled the last Andoren pepperwood trees around 3200 AR, making the fragmented incense sticks in this tin nearly priceless.
The incense is also one of the missing ingredients for which Gloriana Morilla provided a substitute reagent, which may or may not work.
Kort moves over to check on Mama D, not sure if she stands or has fallen. He will offer her healing in place of angry hisses of rebuke for being so foolish and getting too close
M'Della flusters under the much needed attentions until Kort's ministrations has her back to full health. Well, nearly so. Her self-esteem took a few major blows as well.
"Yes, thank you, Oh, what a mess I made of that. Definitely should have.. yes, that is a great balm, thank you...Oh dear! I think that is, uh...sufficient, thank you..."
"Now, what were you thinking?" Kort asks, having held his tongue for at least 12*6 seconds, and still angry at being so worried so quickly by Mama D's return.
"Thinking? THINKING? Why, it was a marvel not likely seen in thousands of years. It was a wonder! and I..." She blusters, her cheeks turning red from aggravation and a guilty conscience. "They could have all been injured... or worse! and it would have been my fault!"
Mama D' has had many, *many* years of taming her temper; it serves her in good stead now, as she reins it in and faces the truth.
"...and... and think I should have moved much further away." Mama D drops Kort's gaze and moves back, turning with a rueful smile to include them in all in a heartfelt, though less personal, promise. "I will do better next time."
"I don't think she had a chance to think, Professor. That thing was quick, and the room is small enough for it to reach any of us. And her lightning was welcome."
"Thank you, My Friend. You are correct, but Kort's point is not wrong either. I will have to study more to find a suitable solution for the future."
She looks around to make sure all are as whole as she is, before looking forward to where they might head next.
The Night Swan heals herself up after the battle. ”Take comfort, Madame, that you are not the only one that the Major seeks to correct after battle.”
She carefully collects the incense and places it within her Pathfinder Pouch. ”Hopefully we will not need to use it, but if Lady Gloriana’s substitute does not work, we may have to.”
"Thank you, My Friend. You are correct, but Kort's point is not wrong either. I will have to study more to find a suitable solution for the future."
Muri helps Eddie tuck things away, while eyeballing the next door to the south. Heading to it, the halfling regards his elders first. "Well, the Professor has you back, and has your back. Keep him company in the back."
Muri proceeds to open the southern door.
"I will do better next time."
Kort stands up, putting away the wand, and trying to keep the worry from his face. We just got her back and we can't just let her go again. He straightens his uniform, and nods at Mama D.
"Yes, that would be appreciated. I'd like not to say goodbye to you in the same tomb in which we are re-introduced," Kort replies stiffly. "Well, very good. Let's carry on." He offers his hand to help Mama D up.
He will follow Muri to the southern door.
Muri opens the door to reveal a sacristy.
After his death and until the apotheosis of Aroden in 1AR, Taldaris was deified and appeared in many homes and state buildings as a patron saint (though there’s no evidence he ever granted spells or powers).
During that time, almost a millennium, priests used this sacristy to prepare for religious holidays and don formal clothing to perform services.
After Aroden’s faith overshadowed Taldaris’s, the sacristy underwent several changes before being closed up entirely. The once-beautiful pepperwood cabinets here are now delicate with age and most things in this chamber fall apart at a touch.
"Shall we take a closer look at the Hall of Heroes now?"
Elen waits for everyone to be ready before bringing up the rear.
Muri marks the distal door of the sacristy, predicting that it affords them a way around the central hall which has the trap. "Ok, but you're not trying to desecrate the sarcophagi by opening them, right? That would be bad, I think. Feels like this place is watching us, and we just destroyed the angel, so maybe look, don't touch?"
Muri moves into the Hall of Heroes, but does his best to avoid disturbing the burial boxes.
Kort moves to follow Elen and Muri, the trailbreakers. He looks into the room, hoping that Mama D stays back.
Perception
"I won't disturb them, Muri, if they don't disturb us."
Kamari looks around to see if anything can be learned to assist them with the upcoming ceremony.
Of the five sarcophagi, four contain (at least in theory - for now I’m assuming you’re not cracking the cases) the first emperor’s closest advisors, whereas the centermost one commemorates the people of Taldor as a whole. Each sarcophagus’s cover portrays the person to whom it’s dedicated with detailed relief carvings that include short epitaphs and numerous symbolic images.
Beginning at the north, these four depict Iamindra of Cassomir, high priest of Abadar and an unflappable minister depicted in clerical vestments and carrying a pair of keys; Akistair of Oppara, Taldaris’s aide-de-camp and hero from the Day of Sundered Yews, depicted in chainmail and holding an empty scabbard; Ohalia of Zimar, Taldaris’s fearless general depicted with a breastplate, helm, and spear; and Remall of Wayontas (an abandoned city-state near present-day Golsifar), the scholar who revolutionized Taldan architecture, depicted with a scale and a book.
Nothing leaps out of the heavy stone sarcophagi as you enter the room and look around. Other than their historical significance, and the awe they must have inspired countless generations shuffling through here on school history trips, you find nothing of note.
”so maybe look, don't touch?"
Genuinely puzzled, Elen tries to remember the last time anyone had an urge to desecrate anything. ”Oh, if anything untoward should fly forth from this grave, I’ll be touching it pretty aggressively with this Naginata.”
~~
”Shall we head south through the sacristy?”
”Shall we head south through the sacristy?”
”Yes, good call. Let’s go that way.” Kort follows Elen.
Kamari follows along but looks over her shoulder at the sarcophagi just to be sure.
Muri and Underfoot wend their way through the Sacristy towards the previously marked-for-opening southern door, and Underfoot leans her shoulder enough for the halfling to lean over himself and open the door to what lies beyond.
With just a brief look at the sarcophagi, the party moves on to the door, hoping to avoid the trap. And you do!
This hall’s ceiling soars to thirty feet high. The room tapers to a rounded point at the south, where a tall golden statue of a young, muscular man stands before a sarcophagus, one hand resting on the hilt of a sword at his waist and the other holding out a rolled-up scroll. Low wall partitions partly seal the southernmost area, where a spiral staircase descends deeper into the ground.
This chamber marks the deepest anyone but the shrine’s attendants were permitted to travel, containing the statue of the First Emperor that most traveled so far to see. The sarcophagus at its feet is elegantly carved to portray Taldaris’s body in state on the cover.
Kort moves up into the new area and looks around. And then he will cast Detect Magic and see if anything escapes his notice.
Perception
Muri and Underfoot wend their way through the southern door, entering the new sarcophagus room, trotting halfway across the hall, before stopping to give a good look around.
"All clear! There's another way out- the stairs." Muri points, while dismounting. "What do you think, Underfoot? You ready for slowly padding down?"
Elen follows everyone into the next room and waits to see what is to be found.
”I can take the lead.” The Night Swan moves for the spiral staircase at the lead once everyone is ready.
Major Kort gives the room a thorough search and doesn’t find anything magical (other than the background stuff and the party). He can’t even find a secret panel in the base of the sarcophagus, where they always seem to be. But not here. Seems to be solid gold - it must weigh a ton!
Do you open the sarcophagus of Taldaris to seek the Mantle of Kings or descend below to search further?
Kort stares at the sarcophagus for a while longer, hoping to penetrate deeper to sense magical objects. But if it’s deeper than a foot of stone, or protected by lead, Kort knows he might not see anything which might be inconclusive.
But, without any pinging, Kort is happy to follow others down.
You descend more than forty feet into a large chamber. This octagonal room bears numerous murals showing First Emperor Taldaris and several companions slaying beasts, making offerings, and raising the columns of great buildings.
These paintings depict many deeds performed by Taldaris: Taldaris being raised by a pair of foo dire lions, his companions slaying a pair of green dragons and chopping down the towering forest beyond, Taldaris making an offering of a gigantic bull’s head to Abadar, the general Ohalia driving a spear through the chest of a regally dressed giant, and many more. This art favors the two-dimensional pre-imperial style, and after millennia with little maintenance, the pigments have faded considerably or sloughed off entirely in places.
The Major also just barely notices a trio of traps - glyphs of warding, set in the room. Avoid the noted squares and you’re fine.
Kamari hugs the wall and starts moving around the room in a counterclockwise direction. She peers down the first hallway.
Kort will not only point out the bad places to step, but will hover around Mama D to ensure she doesn’t accidentally wander into those spaces.
”This way, M’Della. Watch your feet.”
Kort will follow whichever direction the goon squad decides.
Muri mounts up at the base of the stairs, and asks Underfoot to move towards the eastern doorway, mirroring Kamari's move towards the western one.
"Nothing crazy over here..."
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As you enter the chamber and look around a bit, two of the murals peel off the wall and become substantial! Two foo dire lions (image) looking very fine and primped. The lighter colored one (Myrllial) circles the party, pacing and staring judgmentally while the darker (Luccaro) appears next to Underfoot and has a good butt-sniff.
Myrllial speaks up in a language you all hear as Taldan common, though with a low growl through it. It’s perhaps a little stilted and old but it’s still by no means as ancient a dialect as you’d expect. ”I am Myrllial, and that is Luccaro and we demand to know by who’s authority you invade this tomb of Taldaris. The public is not permitted to be here.”
Luccaro echos, ”…not permitted to be here,” as he sniffles up to the Major, checking his old-man smell.
- - -
Know (Planes) -
”These are guardians of good, do not attack,” Kort warns the party, hoping for parlay. ”Keep your cool and we might avoid bloodshed. We were tasked to be here by Taldan royalty, so we just need to explain that,” Kort says to the party, wondering who wants to explain while he figures out what to do if these go astray.
Kamari keeps her distance but addresses the guardians.
"Noble guardians, we are honored to meet you and thank you for your vigilance in protecting this tomb. We come at the behest of our ruler for the good of the kingdom. We come seeking the Mantle of Kings so that the country might remain united. We have done our best to leave things undisturbed and will leave you peacefully upon completing our royal mission."
She ends with a deep bow and flourish of her empty hand.
Maybe the hand waving was a bit too much.
Diplomacy to aid
"Yeah. We have orders from the Princess of Taldor herself," Kort says, fumbling in his 'sack. "Here are our Certs of Rank as well."
With that special sparkle she has in her eye when she dotes on Underfoot Elen says (in Celestial, following Kort's example), ”We have fought all manner of evil. Taldor is at a crossroad where either very good things can happen, or very bad things can happen. The time has come for the true ruler of Taldor to be revealed, and only the Mantle with its divine influence will be able to tell who is worthy. It is with your permission we move on to perform the ritual and retrieve the Mantle of Kings.”
Muri doesn't resist Underfoot as she in turn sniffs in the general direction of a dire Foo. She's efficient with her sensory investigation, and almost comes to a sitting position with the halfling still on her back. She recognizes at the last moment not to lower her haunches.
"You two look keen. Is it lonely down here? This place has been closed for how long now? Maybe you could take turns seeing the countryside? Get some fresh air?"
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With that special sparkle she has in her eye when she dotes on Underfoot Elen says (in Celestial, following Kort's example), ”We have fought all manner of evil. Taldor is at a crossroad where either very good things can happen, or very bad things can happen. The time has come for the true ruler of Taldor to be revealed, and only the Mantle with its divine influence will be able to tell who is worthy. It is with your permission we move on to perform the ritual and retrieve the Mantle of Kings.”
or
"Oh, I had not dreamed to meet such loyal guardians, but this is a True Honour, as it is our Honour to serve The True Princess. I have seen her this very day, and she was quite determined to see the Good and Rightful Leader to be settled once and for all." Oh, if only the LionBlades were as old as these valiant creatures. What a introduction, that might be! Alas, it is not to be, Wee Robkin. Not this time.
Luccaro sniffs at your documents, and for a moment you think he’s going to chew on them, but a glancing check with Myrillal leaves your records untouched.
”It seems you may be permitted.” concedes Myrillal. ”The ‘True Princess’? Taldaris will decide that I imagine. It has been some time since he has had to. I wish you success. You may proceed.”
The two lions, after one last sniff on Luccaro’s part, leap back into the mural where their painted selves frolic in the grass briefly before taking their positions again raising Taldaris. Myrillal pokes her head out of the painting just for a moment, ”Caution going west. The last to try was spit out badly mauled and broken. I cannot advise you beyond a suggestion to go blind into the chamber. Good luck.”
She retreats back into the mural and stands poised, guarding over the baby Taldaris.
So, East, West, or South?
Kort sniffs, and stiffly begins to lead Mama D to the east. It seems safer that direction...unless anyone objects.
Kamari resists the temptation to poke at the Foo murals and instead passes by the Major to join Muri at the opening to the eastern hallway. She looks down the hallway while Kort and the rest join them.
"That's no kind of life." Muri looks back at the murals, saddened by the fate of the foos. "Do they even age? Maybe when they pop out?" The halfling shakes his head, redirecting Underfoot to proceed.
Low shelves line this room, collapsed in several places under the weight of precious ornaments and vases.
For the first thousand years of the tomb’s existence, pilgrims and mortal petitioners regularly visited the upper levels to offer prayers and make donations. Custodians regularly transferred these votive offerings down here for safekeeping when an offering area became too crowded. Later in the shrine’s occupation, the caretakers had to sell off some of the treasures here to maintain the site.
The remaining treasures include 24 scarabs and amulets delicately carved from semiprecious stone worth 50 gp each, a bronze and carnelian necklace with bottle-shaped beads worth 750 gp, seven wax-sealed pots of cosmetics (all ruined and worthless), a foot-tall faience lion statue inset with topaz eyes worth 1,200 gp, a pair of bull’s horns carved with a processional scene worth 150 gp, a delicate cylix carved from a single piece of alabaster worth 800 gp, assorted Osirian coinage worth 457 gp, assorted ancient Taldan coinage worth 552 gp, and assorted dwarven coinage worth 120 gp.
Do you help yourselves?
"You may take and use any magical items that could be of use in the coming days, and do so with respect. Leave any purely decorative items and currency.”
Kort warns people away from taking anything that is not magical. He will cast Detect Magic and make sure the party isn't missing something interesting, but then be ready to move on.
The Major finds nothing magical.