Taking a long breath, Ohrmizd sheathes back his scimitar "Ohmgf, that was a terrible experience"
Leaning towards the altar, he recovers his breath and leaves the stuff taken over the stone. Then heads back to the secret door to help anyone having trouble "Hei! There are no more treasures in the southern tunnels but I found a save exit here!"
Once everyone is safe, he says a prayer to Sarenrae and scans the objects magic.
"I do not know about the blade, but the chain shirt has enhanced protection" handing the stuff to the others he asks "What do the experts think about it?"
The temple’s alabaster altar gleams in the erratic blue light, its pedestal carved in the shape of winged, scale-covered bulls. From below Ohrmizd hears the well known hiss of a suddenly appearing serpent.
Roryx holds his breath and follows Ohrmizd.
"Hold your breath!" - he suggests to the others.
Not wanting to fight a snake in their still slightly dizzy state - Roryx from holding his breath and Ohrmizd from breathing - they leave the altar and the snake behind with a quick dash.
The headstart lasts through the rooms but the snake is persistent in following. Until shortly before the reunion with the others, when the snake is suddenly gone. A moment before it was 15 feet behind in the open, and now it is gone.
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Seeing Miz and Roryx running towards him followed by a snake again, Manuun readies his bow, when he notices the Snake winking out of existence.
"Oops where did that disappear to?"
When the other tell him that the snake on the altar reappeared he guesses.
"Looks like it can't move to far away from the altar. But it seems to reset again, so we won't have unlimited time to s study these texts"
"We probably will have to end up fighting it..." - Roryx nods, as he securely ties up the leopard man.
Unimpressed, Ohrmizd chops half the snake before trying to meet with the others "Critters! This place needs real cleaning"
---
"Are we done in here? It seems the place is crumbling to pieces" Ohrmizd gives a new eye to the blade the group found "But perhaps Father Zastoran will be happy we found this blade"
"I suggest we copy those spells and get out of this place before it falls itself into nothingness"
Omari rubs his bald pate and replies to Ohrmzid : "We're done here for today, but tomorrow, I ask the father's aid so we can search the mist-filled area safely."
He continues : "While Roryx is copying spells, I propose we split into two teams; Roryx and a guard to watch his back - let's not leave anyone alone down here, and a second search team to search the complex closely - which will keep the rest of us from getting bored as well a find anything we've missed while hunting monsters. But before we do that, who's hurt and how badly?"
"I received a scratch on my head... do not ask why..." Heshan did not want to tell how he hit himself by his confusion yet again.
"Will you have enough of the poison resistance for everyone heading in?"
"I am well Omari, thank you brother"
"Sounds like a plan" Ohrmizd nods in agreement to Omari "I will cover Roryx's back" the man takes the half-orc around the broad shoulders "Let's make sure a long snake does not decide to find a different place to hole up"
The Keleshite seems in good fit and health.
While Roryx is studying and copying, Omari (and hopefully Heshan and Manuun), is carefully searching the rest of the ruin, except where the fumes make it unsafe.
If there's enough time he will continue and carefully search the above ground areas as well.
"Be careful my friends" Ohrmizd slightly nods worried at the others at the time they depart to complete the exploration "In case of doubt give us a shout"
Other than that, the Keleshite starts to study the glyphs with Roryx, asking a lot of questions about why the glyphs are written in one way or another, and about the transcribing process "Does the ink need to be magically enchanted? How did you learn to do that?" until ultimately he gets bored with the process and lies back on the columns, one knee bend "Soooo... have you made any progress with Almah?"
"Better than staying around, that is certainly true." With a nod, he followed the cleric to search the place.
A thorough search reveals no further treassure besides the one found in the choker's nest and the one above ground under the loose flagstone. Some things you find make sense now like the claw marks on the destroyed doors in the entry chamber. You also find that the altar is trapped with a magical trap that summons a snake everytime someone comes near.
"Be careful my friendsOther than that, the Keleshite starts to study the glyphs with Roryx, asking a lot of questions about why the glyphs are written in one way or another, and about the transcribing process "Does the ink need to be magically enchanted? How did you learn to do that?" until ultimately he gets bored with the process and lies back on the columns, one knee bend "Soooo... have you made any progress with Almah?"
Roryx's replies were in the form of grunts and nods, until Ohrmizd spoke about Almah - "She is spoken for" - he replied, his eyes still on the glyphs which revealed much harder to decipher than he expected.
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Returning from the search Manuun steps up to Ohrmizd. "So what have you been up to? Anything interesting?"
When he realizes that everybody but Roryx can only wait he starts looking at the columns himself. Unfortunately the thing don't make any sense to him.
"Shall we get back to the town? Doesn't look like there was anything interesting here."
Omari replies "If we camp overnight, I can protect you from the fumes tomorrow and you can search the are where the leopard man was - there might be something interesting in there."
Heshan has better luck in figuring out the components of a couple of the columns he checked out. "One is for a sleep spell and another is for shocking grasp."
At Manuun's suggestion, he nodded. "I am not sure if they will be happy that the only thing we found were some scrolls and an unconscious leopard man."
Ohrmizhd smiles while sitting with his hands on the back of the head while Roryx works "Well, it seems Almah is more complex than those indecipherable glyphs"
"What about the rest of the temple? Any gold?"
---
The Keleshite is happy to sit with Father Zastoran and enjoy a cup of tea together "Well, aside from falling ruins and horribly dizzying fumes... we found an altar with spells written and a leopard man"
"Which makes me remember this" Ohrmizd extends the blade the group found placing it over the table and making an offering with the hand for Zastoran to examine it "Do you have any idea what this might be? Anything Nethys?"
Ohrmizhd smiles while sitting with his hands on the back of the head while Roryx works "Well, it seems Almah is more complex than those indecipherable glyphs"
"What about the rest of the temple? Any gold?"
"Haven't really been looking - though Gwen seems to be an interesting woman" - Roryx replies without interrupting his studies, Swiper sleeping calmly next to him.
----------
Roryx makes sure the leopard man is securely tied and stable, as they make ready for spending the night - "If we are staying, we need to set up some watches - I can take the first one"
The next day, Roryx gives another go at the glyphs, while the others finish exploring.
Ohrmizd arches an eyebrow and smiles "Aha! Gwen... is that the one lifting Roryx spirits at night?"
---
"I am going to tell you the deeds and parables of Sarenrae..." while Roryx studies, Ohrmizd properly instructs him on how Sarenrae can help him.
"Is that not the Ra rune? I think that note means you have to spin the wrist in this other direction"
Somewhen in the morning the leopard man starts struggling against the ropes.
"Someone needs to keep watch over this one at all times" - Roryx warns, before leaving to continue the pillar studies.
"It could be the more than just the mists that was keeping him mad,"[ Heshan inquired. "Who knows how long this man... leopard person has been in that room."
As for Roryx's question, he turned towards Ohrmizd. "Will you do the honors while we continue our search?"
Somewhen in the morning the leopard man starts struggling against the ropes.
Once his morning ablutions, spell prep and so forth are done, Omari will go over to the leopard man. After checking the wre-leopard's bindings, and prayer to Erastil (guidance), he'll try to strike up a conversation: "Good morning, my name is Omari, and I'm a priest of Erastil. For my sins, I went and made friends with those guys", he gestures at the rest of the party, " and I came along to keep them alive when they decided to explore this ruined temple of Nethys. Then we met you, you demonstrated that you're a were-leopard and tried to eat our faces. It's possible we got off on the wrong foot. So how about you tell me about who you are, what you are, why you're out here in this ruined temple, and anything else that might convince me that you don't need to be put down as a magic-maddened man-eater..."
5 ranks +3 trained +2 wis +1 guidance
"I'm Haidar the Accursed. I was once the Falcon Emir but this curse ruined my life. This magical chamber can for sure cure that or at least teach me how to control it, and then my life and reputation will be restored."
"You know I have a great family and visit the court of the Sheikh regularily."
"Can you tell me what is going on in my home country right now? I haven't heard from Ipeq in a while."
"Ipeq? What are you talking about? We are in Katapesh, have you lost your mind Haidar? Is that your real name?" Ohrmizd observes a bit on the distance while Omari interrogates.
"Why did you came to the Nethys temple? And what is this blade?" the Keleshite shows the blade the group recovered from Haidar.
Haidar glares at Ohrmizd. Turning to Manuun he answers "Yes, Osirion. Who is this Garavel? Is he from Osirion too?" His eyes brighten. But as Manuun also writes him off as a nutjob his hopes fade.
Omari's brow furrows and he asks: "A couple of questions Haidar, what year was is when you left Ipeq, and what year is it now"
"I left Ipeq in the year 4708 AR. But I have lost track of time in the magic cave." Haidar replies
"Well, it's 4709, so you haven't been in there that long." Omari turns to the others: "Once we are done here, let us take him with us. Perhaps Father Zastoran can help this unfortunate soul."
"Mmm... Garavel is our boss, I do not think he is from Osirion, jiz, I think he was born a Pactmaster dog" Ohrmizd half-smiles back.
"This curse you talk about? How did you contract it?"
While Omari questions the man, Ohrmizd stretches his eyes and focuses on him trying to read his auras.
"I sense there is an aura on him..." he whispers for the others to know what kind of person they are facing.
And Ohrmizd also explains what he feels about him.
"Yes, let's bring him to Father Zastoran" and turning to the man "Are you ok with coming with us?"
"Something bit me one night on a walk." Haidar replies.
"I want to stay here in the magic room. This will cure my curse!"
"Do not trust a word of what this one says. It will not stand his word and will look only for himself" Ohrmizd spits next to the feet of the man "By Sarenrae's mercy, I only hope it is the curse what corrupts his thoughts and intentions"
"If you please to accept it, I would like to spare his life, imprison him until we find a way to remove curse on him" looking at the man with a mixture of pity and spite the Sarenrite adds "Every man deserves a second chance"
Omari's mien turns grave, and he asks "Haidar, you have been here several months. What have you been doing to feed yourself?"
***
"Brethren, I can ask for Erastil's blessing to protect us from poison temporarily . Do we want to thoroughly search fumed area before we leave?"