Jazadi looks over the parchment.
"Huh. Isn't this a star chart of Wati's summer skies? Not sure if it's for navigation, divination, or educational purposes..."
Uthe looks over the fragment as well. "It's obviously from ..." she begins, but then frowns. "No, sorry, we don't know where it's from. It looked similar to one we've seen elsewhere, but we don't remember where."
"Well there are many residents of the necropolis and you should be alert for all. These places are not like your places. Although some particularly nasty cat women control the North West of our home." Unwrapped Harmony replies with a slight shiver about these cat women.
She also gives you directions to the Marid's Caress which is not far from here at all.
...huh. Other cat women are here?
Uthe's ears literally perk up when Unwrapped Harmony mentions 'cat women'. "Are there other amurrun like us here?" she asks.
At the description, her ears flatten slightly. "So not like us, then," she says. "They sound ... familiar, though."
Dhakira makes sure the little creature is okay, and keeps an eye on them while the group explore the rest of the villa.
She confirms what Jazadi and Uthe said about the star chart but doesn't know much more them them.
She let<s her allies question their host, looking up, intrigued, towards Uthe when they mention cat women, but can't tell if they're talking about uthe's kind, or others.
A morass of mud, mold, and crumbling stonework fills this old and unremarkable bathhouse’s humid interior.
According to Sebti’s map, one of the Pharasmins’ elegiac compasses was placed in the ruins of this unassuming bathhouse. After centuries of neglect, however, the bathhouse’s plumbing finally failed, collapsing one wall onto the compass and you find it damaged beyond repair; the second compass you've seen that is unusable. The windblown sand collapsed rock, and constant leaks have since transformed the Marid’s Caress into an indoor swamp.
Searching the rubble and the parts of the bathhouse left standing, there is no sign of the mysterious stranger seen by the dark folk of Vizier’s Hill.
Whilst searching, in a pile of muck, you find a lens of detection, caked in mud.
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Say'ri catches a glimpse of something following them and some of the earlier whispers make more sense to her now.
"Well then." She says carefully. "Let's move on nice and quickly." She hurries the group onwards and takes a couple of narrow streets at speed to try and lose the pursuit at least temporarily.
"We're being followed." She says once they've gained some ground. "We need to find a good ambush point and find out who it is!"
"Yes! Lamia! That's what they sound like. Thank you, Say'ri," Uthe says with a grin. "And they are very not amurrun."
~~~~~
"This is not much of a 'Caress'," the sorceress says when seeing the condition of the bathhouse.
"We thought we heard someone earlier. Yes, let us find somewhere to lurk and wait for our prey."
Jazadi nods and looks for a shady spot to hide in.
Dhakira just barely sees again the movement at the corner of her eyes. « Yes Uthe, I think the same things that we saw ealier. And Say’ri saw them also, it means that we were right I guess. » She follows the others, looking for a spot where she can cast in security.
She tries to go quietly, but stumbles on some loose rocks with boots covered in mud.
Finding a spot to hide in a disused shady building is none too hard, but whatever is following you surely knows you are there by the racket that Dhakira caused.
Whatever has been following you clearly does not take this opportunity to make itself known for at least the first half-hour. You do however hear the howling of zombies and other undead waling across the necropolis.
Keeping a cautious eye and ear to the ground, Ammon and Dhakira go on ahead, attempting to draw out whatever menace might be following you. Uthe, Say'ri, Jazadi and Jamie follow behind silently on the side path, making barely a whisper jumping from one set of fallen building to another.
From behind some of the rubble, along the main street, a sudden ear-splitting shriek can be heard by all around, standing proudly before you is a woman you all recognise, Ammon even more than most but she has undergone significant transformations since you last saw her. She is now a shambling corpse, twisted and mutilated, especially at her collarbone. An outstretched bony finger points at Ammon as she shrieks, hatred in her eyes.
"Stand firm, Falcons! We killed her once, we can kill her again!" Jamie shouts. She fires a crossbow bolt at the undead Velriana!
"I don't suppose 'Sorry, it was an accident' is going to cut it?" Ammon asks dryly. He waits to see if Dhakira summons a flanking partner for him or not, then he charges!
"She sounds like our mother when she drops a pot," Uthe says before sending a trio of mystical bolts flying into the revenant.
"I don't suppose 'Sorry, it was an accident' is going to cut it?"
"I know it wouldn't in my case." Jazadi sighs before waiting to see if everyone's attacks are enough to already lay Velriana to rest again.
"I don't suppose 'Sorry, it was an accident' is going to cut it?""I know it wouldn't in my case." Jazadi sighs before waiting to see if everyone's attacks are enough to already lay Velriana to rest again.
"Come now, that was a haunt! Could have happened to anyone. ...Right?"
Dhakira looks a bit guilty about the noise, but looks at Say'ri, amused " Are we supposed to serve as bait then?" then starts walking boldly forward with Ammon.
Dhakira's previous experience in the face of undeath helps her keep her cool in the face of a risen fallen foe. "Go back to your grave, foul abomination!"
to try to recognize what kind of undead she is.
She then takes a step forward to get in range and casts Summon Monster II to call Helen the hyena in flanking position with Ammon, the flicks her wrist to get the Wand of Bless out.
Helen smites evil and attacks the creature with a bite
if successful she tries to Trip
As usual, Jamie's commanding voice keeps Ammon from being too distracted!
Ammon's blade cuts deep into Velriana's undead form and although her undead flesh turns Jamie's crossbow bolt, Say'ri's bullet and Uthe's missiles batter her further. The undead flies into a shrieking rage and tears into Ammon with supernatural speed and viciousness.
"Die Murderer!" She cries, grasping the garundi man by the throat and lifting him off the ground. With a terrible shriek she plunges her hand into his chest and rips out his still beating heart! Ammon collapses to the ground and Velriana stands for a moment as his blood sprays across her face. Then an expression of bliss crosses her undead countenance and she crumbles into dust!
Preparing to send more magical missiles into the undead woman, Uthe pulls back in shock when Ammon meets his end in such a grisly manner.
With a solemnity uncharacteristic of the amurrun, she moves forward to close the man's unseeing eyes. "Farewell Ammon," she says in a quiet voice before stepping aside.
Jazadi lets out another scream of terror when Ammon is brutally slain.
Dhakira shouts out when Ammon collapses on the ground. She rushes to him to try to stabilize him, the heart, still warm, on the ground beside his body tells her the whole story. She puts he head down and starts praying. ''Pharasma you're gonna receive the soul of my friend Ammon. Please take care of him and send him where his gods reside for eternity.'' She makes the sign of the spiral over his head, while silent tears fall down her cheeks.
Ammon doesn't have much time to wonder how it was possible that Valrianna, a meek caster, suddenly had the insane kind of strength to tear straight through solid platemail with her bare hands.
But the excruciating pain of having the bones of the ribcage crushed and his heart then ripped out in one single movement makes most coherent thought impossble.
As he falls limply to the floor with a gradually increasing feeling of suffocation, his eyes glide to Say'ri and then Jamie, perhaps wanting to say something, but obviously unable to.
He doesn't get back up.
As a healer, Dhakira knows that when his body starts gaping for air after Velrianna dissolves to dust, it isn't a sign of hope. Rather, it was a lingering primitive reflex and indicative of the last of his brain and respiratory systems shutting down. Without a blood supply, neither lasts long - and no amount of curative magic could change the inevitable outcome.
Jazadi falls backwards and scrambles away, hyperventilating and shaking like mad. When her back hits the nearest wall, she curls up into a ball and starts crying uncontrollably.
Uthe looks around at the others with a frown.
"Now is not the time to fall apart," she says in a harsh voice. "We must gather Ammon and return to the living side. We will take a short time to consider his loss, but many more lives are in jeopardy." She gestures at the man's body. "Dhakira? Say'ri? Would be so good as to collect our friend's remains. We need to head back now."
Uthe's words jolt Jazadi out of her panic and get her back on her feet for the moment. She's entirely silent for the trip back to the living portion of Wati.
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Say'ri nods solemnly to Uthe and kneels by the corpse, pulling out her amulet as she does so. She prays briefly and inaudibly, before removing the shattered armor and hefting the body in her arms with a grunt of effort.
"We must collect his things and return them to his family." She says. "Jazadi, get those please." She shoots Uthe a look that says Watch Jamie and leaves it to Dhakira to reclaim Ammon's heart from Velriana's ashes.
The amurrun nods back at Say'ri and moves to escort the halfling.
Before continuing on, Dhakira, still crying herself, silently offers a hug to Jazadi, if she'll have it.
Then she kneels beside Ammon's heart, picks it up respectfully while praying to Pharasma. She wraps it in a clothe et holds it in her hands, following the others. "Say'ri, do you know a temple to the old gods where we can bring to start the funerary rites. Otherwise I suggest we bring him to the Grand Mausoleum so my brothers ans sisters can take care of him and prepare him to meet Pharasma."
Jazadi quietly collects Ammon's things and accepts Dhakira's hug.
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"There is a community here." Say'ri says solemnly. "They know me there, and Ammon of course."
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The trip back is long and difficult, requiring extra effort to avoid the roaming undead but it is accomplished and Say'ri leads the group to a small shrine in the Asp district.
In accordance with osirian tradition the funeral rites are conducted at sunset, so that Ra's light can guide the soul of the deceased into the underworld. Solemn chants echo in the small courtyard as Wati's priest to the Old Gods calls upon Ra to guide Ammon's soul, Horus to watch over his journey and Osiris to judge him fairly and grant him the rest that he deserves.
The mortician has done a fine job in the few hours that they had Ammon's body and little sign remains of his violent end, apart from the neat scars that show where the significant organs had been removed and placed in the small jars designated to hold them. With his heart replaced inside his body, his hair washed and the dust removed from his skin the warrior is ready for his final journey into the underworld.
Standing by the corpse are Ammon's family, all weeping quietly, amidst a large group of friends and well wishers. Much of the Old Good community had turned up, risking the dangers of the night to pay homage to one of their own.
With the smoke of the candles stinging her eyes Say'ri stepped forward at a nod from the priest.
"I did not know Ammon well before the last few weeks. When Jazadi and I arrived here we were fortunate enough to meet him, a good man who did not attempt to take advantage of us or two gull us from coin. He was a valiant warrior who never hesitated to stand between any of us and danger. He died as he lived, defending others from a great undead threat. We will all miss him." She pauses for a moment to clear her throat. "Horus, Lord of the Sky, watch over the warrior and help him pass safely into your fathers realm."
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Dhakira prays silently during the rituals, while observing what the priests are doing, always interested in learning about new religions.
When Say'ri finishes talking, Dhakira steps forward in turn after a few minutes of silence and says: "In the short time that I've known Ammon, I was able to learn that he was a courageous and noble warrior, always ready to fight undeath and protect the innocents, and his comrades. We will continue to fight the malevolence that is attacking Wati and caused the death of a great man. Ammon: may Pharasma guide your path in the afterlife."
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Jazadi's throat ties itself into knots as the proceedings continue.
When it comes time to speak, she barely manages to get herself together enough to do so.
"...I wish I had a chance to know him better. From what little time we spent together, he proved himself a good man." She finally says.
"And in all that time, I never told him I forgave him. I know that you never meant to hurt me back in the manor. I'm sorry it took this for me to admit that." She whispers, tears flowing down her face.
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Pteminib and Sebti the Crocodile also attend the funeral out of respects to Ammon. Sebti, who does not often attend private funerals herself, steps forwards to show her respects.
"Duty, decency, reliability, honour and respect. These are all qualities that Ammon held in high esteem within his life and he has given his own life in order to protect his home now, when it is most in need. Wati is grateful for your sacrifice." Sebti's eyes scan the crowd, taking in their mourning, their grief and their loss. "Remember, the life of the dead is placed in the memories of the living; remember Ammon and the sacrifice he has made. Remember his virtues and implement these yourself, as if you practice these virtues, you will also carry a little of him within yourselves. May the Lady of Graves watch over Ammon Al-Mukhalas."
After the funeral is over, Sebti approaches your group directly. "I appreciate and respect all of your sacrifices given that I sent you to the Necropolis. Are you all still willing to put an end to this uprising? The city is holding, but I do not know how long it can hold for. I know you are all grieving, but there is no time for me to wait. If you all feel incapable of continuing, then tell me now and I will find an alternative but please know, I truly believe you are all our best hope. We all know the alternative of the Psychopomps" Her forehead shows all the signs of concern and worry, the dark grey circles under her eyes show her continued lack of sleep as she works tirelessly in her current defence of the city. Clearly, taking time out to come to Ammon's funeral was important to her, whether it was to pay her respects or whether it was to talk to you all, it is unclear.
"I have sent in another Lottery group just after yourselves as a precaution but they were not my first choice. I have not heard hide nor hair of them since. They were capable, but some did not have the same resolve as yourselves and a necropolis is indeed a dangerous place. They were focussing on the elegiac compasses and the Cenotaph of the Cynic based on Nakht's suggestion. Perhaps if you head there you could join forces together to scout out the necropolis and find the source of this uprising and put an end to it."
Sebti looks at you all questionningly, waiting an answer, furrowed lines on her forehead showing the concern she holds deep, worried about your final answer.
Uthe says nothing during the rites for Ammon, standing silently at Say'ri's side, her tail moving slowly from side to side. Even the tinkling of her bells seems muted.
~~~~~~
"Our will is still strong and we will continue this task," she says when Sebti approaches them. "It would be faithless of us to flee at this point."
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"Combining our forces would likely be a good plan." Say'ri agrees, unoffended by Sebti's having a back-up plan. "We will head back in with the dawn and go to the Cenotaph immediately."
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Later that night, when it's just her, Uthe and their big pile of cushions Say'ri pauses in her rhythmic stroking of Uthe's fur.
"If I should ever be killed, don't bring me back." She says eventually. "And don't out me in the ground either. It's not the custom but I'd like to be burned. Then spread my ashes to a strong wind and let me fly to Horus that way."
She pauses for a while. "If that happens I want you and Jazz to share my things. I'd prefer to keep you safe than to have them sent all the way to Alkenstar for no reason."
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Uthe turns in the woman's arms and presses her face into Say'ri's neck. "We do not wish to think of such things," she says. Say'ri feels the wet brushing of the amurrun's tongue against the underside of her jaw. She recognizes it as a gesture Uthe uses to calm herself as well as to show affection. "But we understand that life does not always consider our feelings. We will do as you ask, however much it would pain us to be denied your company."
She continues her grooming efforts for a while before speaking again. "Please do not think less of us for lacking your faith and conviction, but we would prefer to remain here as long as possible. We hope you would not feel offended that we would wish to be brought back if possible."
She rises up enough to look Say'ri in the eyes. She offers a rare kiss before resting her head on the woman's chest. "We have grown accustomed to your smell, silly words, and naked skin and have no wish to lose any of it."
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She continues her grooming efforts for a while before speaking again. "Please do not think less of us for lacking your faith and conviction, but we would prefer to remain here as long as possible. We hope you would not feel offended that we would wish to be brought back if possible."
"Of course." Say'ri replies, stroking long lines down Uthe's back. "We all have our own wishes. I just don't want to imagine my soul being trapped beneath the earth forever. I want to fly, should it ever matter. But I have no intention of leaving your constantly shedding pelt and odd bathing habits any time soon."
Uthe lifts her head again to meet Say'ri's eyes with a smirk. "'Odd bathing habits?' says the woman who submerges herself in a big tub of water. What are you? A soiled bowl?" Her mocking grin shifts to something softer. Something warmer.
"We ..." She hesitates a moment. "I care for you, Say'ri," she says. Almost instantly her eyes close and she shakes her head. "Gods, that sounds so ... vulgar."
Dhakira addresses the priestess "Thank you Mother Sebti, and you Pteminb for attending the farewell to our friend, it is an honor.", she says that sincerely even if she suspects that the priestess is also there to see if their help is still secured. "Of course I will continue to serve Pharasma in trying to rid your city of undeath and those that will use. At least as much as it is in my power to do so.", nods to Say'ri then to Jamie, then continues "and I'm relieved to hear that my companions are also willing, in spite of our grievous loss. We will rest and mourn our fallen tonight and be back in the Necropolis at dawn." She makes the sign of the Spiral and bows to Sebti, then follows what's left of the group to the inn.
During the evening she checks with Jamie to see if she needs comfort, and also Jazadi, hoping to also receive comfort from her friend.
She spends a restless night, thoughts turning in her head, wandering if there anything more she could have done to prevent Ammon's death. During her morning prayers, she again asks Pharasma to take good care of his soul. She goes down to the common room an hour before dawn for breakfast. Her eyes are sunken and she looks tired, but determined to continue the fight against undeath.
At daybreak the next morning, making your way through the Necropolis is no easy feat, and its so vital to be even more cautious than before without Ammon to aid you.
Slowly, you use the map to find your way to the Cenotaph of the Cynic, keeping an eye out for the Lamia, that the Xotl warned you of, who rule this particular area.
An unsettling and ominous structure, the round, fortress-like building called the Cenotaph of the Cynic stands apart from the other tombs in Wati’s necropolis, separated by 100 feet of flattened rubble on all sides. Its dome reaches 40ft up into the blue sky.
Cautiously entering through the only door, you find three columns support the domed ceiling of this chamber, and a fourth lies broken across the floor. A mosaic of gods and the afterlife decorates the walls, marred by centuries of graffiti. A pungent musk fills the air.
At the side of the room, you find a Giant Emperor Cobra, lying across the floor, unmoving, its head sliced from its body. Its head is adorned with two dozen golden and jewled earings worth a total of 1500gp if removed.
There are another set of bronze doors to this chamber, but when tried, are locked.
"The godless dead of Wati are interred here," Uthe says as they approach the structure. She looks around the flattened rubble. "We wonder why this particular building was spared in all this devestation."
Entering the building, her nose wrinkles and her mouth opens slightly. "That is a ... unique ... scent. We cannot place it."
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Say'ri collects the earrings while keeping a weather eye on the surroundings.
"Something is, or was, here fairly recently." She says. "There's no decay on the snake so perhaps this place was assigned in the lottery?"
Without any further clues she leads the group onwards, buckler and pistol at the ready.