For the group's second day of research, Jazadi focuses on the texts relating to the noble lineage of the Sky Pharaoh.
During the second day's 'Running', both Uthe and Say'ri chance upon the critical cache of information at the same time, but knowing her girlfriend's current mood, the amurrun concedes the find to her.
As Jazadi is pouring over the documents with excitement, Uthe pulls the gunslinger aside.
"We know you're not happy about spending tomorrow in that woman's circus. We can make an excuse for you if you'd like to avoid it." She eyes Say'ri with an understanding gaze. "We don't think she'd miss you anyway. She's so set on claiming Adol as her prize, we could probably hire a halfling to stand in for us and she wouldn't even blink."
Jazadi truly shines in the Spiral's Heart. Within a single hour, she finds a dusty, otherwise unremarkable scroll that contains a lengthy passage about the burial of Hakotep I, with a passing reference to his tomb having wings. The scroll also contains a tantalizing fragment of the confession of a member of a group called the Sacrosanct Order of the Blue Feather, who claimed that when the Sky Pharaoh was interred, his heart and funerary mask were stolen from his tomb before it was lost to the skies. These two objects supposedly contained the pharaoh’s soul, but his body was left behind in the tomb. This confession was extracted in –1560 ar, some 50 years after the pharaoh’s death.
There are also references to considerable efforts by Hakotep’s successor, Pharaoh Djederet II, to round up members of the Sacrosanct Order for questioning. The results of the interrogations were recorded on a collection of scrolls called the Scrolls of Inquiry, but this collection is not held within the Spiral Archive.
You can identify the Sacrosanct Order of the Blue Feather as a secretive sect of the priesthood of Nethys dedicated to the collection and preservation of knowledge.
The rest of the day is spent trying to find the location of the scrolls, and finally a curator’s catalog reveals that the Scrolls of Inquiry were moved to another of the Inner Sanctum’s libraries, the Dark Depository, 103 years ago.
"The Sacrosanct Order of the Blue Feather... isn't that the priesthood of Nethys that collects and preserves all sorts of knowledge? It must be particularly sensitive knowledge they collect, otherwise they wouldn't be so secretive..." Jazadi muses.
"...I know for a fact that Brigh's clergy wouldn't be nearly as interested in keeping knowledge secret--for better or worse."
"Still, we're going to have to get into the Dark Depository if we want to learn any more... and that's assuming these records are accurate and nobody's gone and moved them in the intervening century."
"...I'm going to have to plead with Muminofrah again, aren't I?" Adol asks, pain and suffering mixed with reluctant acceptance in his voice. He glanced at the Mask, which he'd produced from his handy haversack when the research topic came up. "Well, at least we know now that aside from the Mask, there is both a Heart and a Body, and the Body is in a tomb that flew into the sky. If Hakoteb's cultists wanted to revive the pharaoh, this heart seems like their next target," he muses.
|
"We know you're not happy about spending tomorrow in that woman's circus. We can make an excuse for you if you'd like to avoid it." She eyes Say'ri with an understanding gaze. "We don't think she'd miss you anyway. She's so set on claiming Adol as her prize, we could probably hire a halfling to stand in for us and she wouldn't even blink."
Say'ri sighs and pulls Uthe into an embrace, resting her chin on the catfolk's head for a few moments.
"Thank you." She says once she pulls back. "But I need to go. If she does notice that I'm not there then she'd probably throw a truly awful tantrum and we could kiss goodbye to ever getting any more information about Hakotep. I'll rise early and greet the rising sun - that way the day can still be meaningful even if we do have to watch her cooing over Adol all day."
-------------------------
"Probably." Say'ri says, giving Adol a sympathetic look. "She's the only person with the power who any of us can persuade." His suggestion regarding the heart makes her frown. "Unless they found the heart first, which is why they were looking for the Mask... It had been in Wati for centuries without being disturbed so I can't imagine it was the first piece they found. Unless someone found his body..."
That is not a pleasant thought.
"Well let's get out of here then." She says once Jazadi declares their work done. "We might as well not use up all the days. It might buy us some goodwill...?" Her tone makes it clear that Say'ri knows that's a long shot.
"Given that the servant said the Royal consort specifically invited us for the festivities tomorrow, along with 'an exciting opportunity for us to partake in them', it seems attending those is our best shot," Adol responds to Say'ri. "Maybe if we make our performance, whatever it is going to be, spectacular enough, that would speak in our favor. Loathe as I am to use the lady's gifts for the sake of entertaining others, I hope she forgives me for the sake of the mission."
"Huh... if we're going to perform for them, I might be in a bit of a bind there. My 'performances', quote unquote, are really more suited for a lecture hall than a royal party."
"Huh... if we're going to perform for them, I might be in a bit of a bind there. My 'performances', quote unquote, are really more suited for a lecture hall than a royal party."
Adol shrugs, the headband covering his Heretic brand shifting slightly and the lower edge of the mark showing from underneath. "You're young, smart and attractive. If you give a talk on something you're passionate about, I'm sure you'll do fine. Particularly if it concerns something relevant to the people here."
"...you mean like the engineering practices of Ancient Osirion?" Jazadi tilts her head at Adol.
"I don't know, that sounds a little too much like I'd be treating them like they don't know their own history... eh, I'll think of something."
The next morning you are all awakened early by an insistent tapping at your doors. Opening them reveals a slave dressed in a simple white dress who informs you that "Her Excellency expects your presence at her pleasure barge immediately! You are to join her for breakfast."
When you arrive at the barge you find Muminofrah lounging and being fed small dates by a large, ebony skinned slave.
"My Hero!" She cries upon seeing Adol. "Come! Sit with me. I have the most amusing idea for today's entertainment. You'll take part won't you? For me?" She lays a plump hand on Adol's arm, trailing it across his forearms and corded biceps.
"I'm holding a chariot race for the amusement of the populace." She waves her other hand negligently, as if to show her opinion of the populace. "I've had the Hat-ya declare a public holiday. She's a frightful bore and made a terrible fuss about 'lost productivity' but anyway." A casual flick dispenses with Deka An-keret, "You'll take part won't you, my Hero? I'd so like to see you driving a chariot. Perhaps without your shirt? I could have all the racers do it. What a wonderful idea! We must make it so! You will do it, won't you? I'd be so grateful and the winner receives a prize. I might even be persuaded to give a special gift for the winner." She adds with a wink and a not-very-subtle leer.
A character who wants to attempt to move three cards during his turn can do so by taking a full-round action. That character must overcome both obstacles on the card he is leaving. In this case, if a character fails either obstacle check by 5 or less, he only moves one card forward and his turn ends. If a character fails either obstacle check by more than 5, he cannot move at all that turn. A character unfortunate enough to fail two obstacle checks in a turn becomes mired in his current square (he might have fallen from a ledge, gotten a foot stuck amid roots, or got caught in a crowd, for example). A character who is mired must spend another full-round action becoming unmired and effectively loses his next turn in the chase. In some cases, becoming mired might impart additional penalties (such as falling damage).
A character can also choose to make a ranged attack or cast a spell during his turn in a chase. If the action is a full-round action, he can’t move at all. Use the number of cards and their established distances to determine ranges as necessary. The terrain where the chase takes place might provide the target partial or even full cover or concealment, as you wish. A character can only choose to make melee attacks against targets that are on the same card.
|
|
Say'ri is already up, having risen before dawn to complete her devotions to Horus and attends, fortified by strong black coffee.
Upon Muminofrah's request she manages to restrain an eye-roll and nods to Adol. "I'll ride with you." She says. "Let's get this over with."
--------------------------------
Try as she might, Say'ri cannot see a clear path as the race begins in chaos.
Maintaining a polite smile was difficult at times, whether at court, negatiating with not too friendly locals, or deflecting lecherous comments. But Adol had enough experience now to hold it through, and enough wisdom to see there wasn't much of a choice. If this woman could call a national holyday at a whim, she could get them access to the deepest and most secret archives whenever she wanted.
Thus, he gives Mumimofrah a formal bow. "If that is My Lady's desire, so it will be."
As requested, he shows up to the chariot race shirtless (and armorless), his well-toned physique and many scars on full display. When Say'ri shows up, he gives a sigh of relief. "Thanks. I was afraid I'd have to do this alone. I can't say I'm a very good horseman."
Fortunately, however, the camels seem to take a liking to him, and after some grooming, aided by the local stable boy, they cooperate!
"Though it seems easier than I thought! Let's give these people a good show, shall we?" he asks, grinning despite it all for the sheer adrenaline of the race and competition. He draws his sword and cheers to the crowd as it begins in earnest.
Jazadi saddles up in a chariot along with Uthe. "Hey--if we win this, it'll make things even with Say'ri for the Spiral Archives."
As the race begins, the young archaeologist realizes a little too late that she has no real idea how to drive a chariot... not that it stops her.
Having no skill at either chariots or camels, when Uthe climbs into the contraption, she depends on Jazadi to manage the mechanics. For her part, she settles on enchanting the smelly creatures and snarling at them with pointed teeth to spur them onwards.
Once Uthe manages to scare the camels into going the right way, Jazadi takes the opportunity to entertain the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen--this right here's a fine piece of engineering! Built to ride smoothly over rough stonework and smooth sands--" She starts as the chariot starts to blaze through the pack!
Seeing that the camels respect a vocal predator, Uthe continues her inspirational growling and snarling.
As their chariot passes through a quiet neighborhood, Jazadi suddenly grabs the reins and yanks the chariot hard left--just in time to dodge an errant deluge of waste!
"You're welcome." She quips to Uthe as she spurs the chariot onwards, easily ducking under a cluster of laundry lines.
Entirely giving herself into the race, Uthe is a Amurrun entirely in the moment. So when the attackers fire from the nearby rooftop, it's almost child's play to avoid the errant bolts.
She laughs as they race by the position.
Try as he might, there was just no starting the camels, and it wasn't in his nature to shout the animals into submission. But aware that he had to do *something*, he eventually gives in and manages to scare the camels into moving. Of course, by then it seemed far too late.
Likewise, when the cart just gets stuck and refuses to move no matter what, Adol just descents points at the unmoving cart, looks at Mumimofrah somewhere above the crowd and shakes his head apologetically. He was convinced a sabotage of sorts was at play, or that fate had looked upon the two of them extremely unkindly that day.
Speaking of which...
"It seems my goddess is rather displeased by my choosing to go along with this," He says to Say'ri between gunshots. "I only hope this humbling has assuaded her wrath."
"Let's. If they go and gloat about it we'll just tell them we were ambushed by cultists in the middle of the race, or something among those lines," Adol grins and follows the Falcon's leader out of the track for a drink. After donning his shirt back on, of course.
Now in the home stretch, Jazadi tries to shield her eyes from sun and sand alike...
The bright sun catches the sorceress off guard as well and the chariot slows.
By the time the chariot gets back on track, Jazadi notices a pair of cultists aiming crossbows at them from the crowd!
As bolts fly, Jazadi grabs a crossbow stashed under the reins and returns fire herself!
Even caught up in the energy of the race, Uthe doesn't seem to want to beat her girlfriend's team too badly. At least that's the most plausible explanation for why the chariot slows in the last stretch before finally crossing the finish line.
The crowds were totally energised by the race through the streets, cheering their favorites and jeering the less able competitors; much enjoyment was had by all.
Uthe and Jazadi seem to have been the long odds in the crowd with some bets being placed, but the excitement rose as the gap closed towards the end and their camels and chariot are swarmed with new fans as they cross the finish line just in time.
After some celebration, Uthe and Jazadi are led up to the decorated barge to receive their grand prize. Muminofrah is standing draped in all her jewellery for the occasion and greets both winners with a smile, landing a large smooch on Jazadi's cheek. With magical aid, her voice echoes around the riverside.
The crowd erupts into cheers again, before Muminofrah turns back to Jazadi, eyelashes fluttering and lips pouting, ignoring Uthe entirely. "I will also allow you to make a wish which I may grant for you." She leans forward and plants another kiss on Jazadi's cheek. "Come, you and your friends should join me for more celebrations this day and you may think upon your wish."
It would seem that Jamie and Dhakira had chosen to not participate in the race themselves on this day but stayed back on the edge of the barge enjoying the fine foods and observing the goings-on from a distance. As The Falcons all rejoin them for further celebrations, they introduce you to Talibh a passing noblewoman from Ipeq accompanied by two of her bodyguards whose company they had enjoyed at great length during the morning so far. "Im very pleased to meet you! Congratulations and commiserations in equal portions" She says, with a slight smile. "Jamie here was just telling me that you have spent a lot of time in the grand libraries here in Tephu! How interesting! What was it exactly that you were all researching?"
Muminofrah's much unwanted attentions have shifted from Adol to Jazadi during the race and Jazadi is invited to sit with Her Excellency alone.
The adrenaline rush is still present in the Amurrun as she hops down from the chariot as evident by her swishing tail and the pools of black her eyes have become as the pupils widen to their largest.
Seeing Say'ri in the crowd, she rushes to her girlfriend and embraces her with a passionate kiss.
Their celebration is cut short when Uthe and Jazadi are pulled away to be presented as the winners to Muminofrah.
~~~~~
Uthe accepts the spoils of victory graciously, but Jazadi can tell that she's less than pleased at being the new owner of a camel, no matter its skills.
"Clearly our benefactress' desires are as capricious as the wind," she says to Adol with a smirk. "Although which of you are the true winner would be a matter of perspective."
She tips her head at the newcomer's question. "We are researching the legend of the Sky Pharaoh," she declares, assuming that Jamie and Dhakira have vetted the woman. "We believe that there may be a current related threat."
|
|
Given just how badly the race has gone Say'ri and Adol manage to make it to the finishing line in time to see Uthe and Jazadi win. Say'ri whoops loudly and swings Uthe round in a whirl when the amurrun comes charging through the crowd to her.
-------------------------------
Say'ri works hard not to smirk when Uthe finds out she now owns a camel although her mirth disappears quickly when Jamie and Dhakira introduce Talibh. She isn't against making new friends, but simply spouting what they're doing her and wh-...
Since Uthe has no sense of caution Say'ri stays quiet and makes no effort to hide the fact that she is watching the noblewoman and her bodyguards closely.
At first, Jazadi is absolutely elated to have won the race; considering she had no real experience with racing or chariots of any sort, the mere fact that she and Uthe won was not something she would have expected to accomplish.
Her joy abruptly curdles when Muminofrah turns her attentions on her. Two kisses on her cheeks later, and Jazadi's expression has turned from one who just won a race to one who is currently enduring the pain of having her toenails pulled out, one at a time. An impressive feat, considering the only real change to her expression is a slight widening of the eyes and a shrinking of the pupils.
The archaeologist awkwardly sits alongside Muminofrah as the celebrations begin in earnest, her posture stiff and tense.
"Oh that sounds terrifying!" Talibah replies, astounded at the idea of a threat, "Who is the Sky Pharoah that you speak of? Some self-named leader of a street gang, or something more ominous?"
Say'ri notes that the woman's clothes do not suit the usual quality of a noblewoman and her voice's tone seems to alter within her speech.
Muminofrah continually tries to flirt with Jazadi throughout the celebrations. After the first round of meals and plentry of drinks later, she reminds Jazadi of her prize, leaning in towards the archeologist amorously, "And what wish do you request as part of your spoils young lady?"
"Well..." Jazadi thinks while trying to ignore Muminofrah's attempts at flirting. "...I hear that the Dark Depository is so mysterious and intriguing--I would love a chance to step within it for myself and delve into the secrets it holds."
"Oh that sounds terrifying!" Talibah replies, astounded at the idea of a threat, "Who is the Sky Pharoah that you speak of? Some self-named leader of a street gang, or something more ominous?"
Every instructor that Uthe has ever had has emphasized that she needs to learn to read people better, but she's never put in the effort. Her girlfriend, though, Uthe's come to learn some of her telling traits and the amurrun can tell that Say'ri doesn't trust this woman.
"At this point we're really not sure," Uthe replies dismissively. "It's an old legend that hints at something else, but we really haven't been able to find anything solid. Our trail has come to an end, in fact. So now we're just enjoying what fate and the gods have placed before us."
She turns to Say'ri. "Isn't that right, Baby?" she asks, throwing her arms around the woman and planting a kiss on her cheek.
"It is good to meet you too, Talibah. My name is Adol, a wayward paladin of sorts. Are you, too, a scholar of sorts to be so interested in our learnings? Well, if so..." He sees the interplay between Say'ri and Uthe with the latter becoming evasive. "Personally, I am looking for a necromancer that wronged me in the past, along with her friend. Alas, I too have not found any clue to her possible whereabouts as of yet, even in such an esteemed archive."
"Which reminds me, I believe I will go and get a few drinks in the celebration buffet. Shall I order some for you all as well?"
After moving away and getting the drinks, he walks to a semi concealed or crowded area, and uses his divine senses to detect evil in both Talibah and her two guards.
|
|
"If you say so sweetheart." Say'ri replies. She gives a shrug towards Talibah. "I'm not much of one for reading and so on. I just carry the books around and make sure our scholars don't get in trouble or forget to eat. Speaking of which."
She takes Uthe towards one of the buffet tables, pushes a plate into her girlfriend's hands and starts choosing food for it.
She finishes Uthe's plate and leans in to rest her forehead against the amurrun's, a momentary gesture of quiet intimacy that provides cover for another brief conversation.
She takes Uthe towards one of the buffet tables, pushes a plate into her girlfriend's hands and starts choosing food for it.
Stilling learning the etiquette of the 'buffet', Uthe has no qualms with picking up and returning any sort of vegetation Say'ri sets on her plate back to the container/platter whence it came.
She finishes Uthe's plate and leans in to rest her forehead against the amurrun's, a momentary gesture of quiet intimacy that provides cover for another brief conversation.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Jazadi shoots a look over at Say'ri and Uthe, her discomfort growing by the moment.
Oh, don't mind me, you two. You go ahead and make out in full view of everyone while I try to get out of spending time with the city's most entitled, spoiled, flighty and cruel noblewoman with my dignity somewhat intact. THANKS.
Muminforah's face falls as Jazadi requests such a mundane prize for winning the race. "That can be arranged." She says simply, with a wave of her hand before her attentions turn entirely to Deka who is sat with dissatisfaction on her right.
Talibah listens attentively but shakes her head. "No, no not a scholar, but as you mention there is a possible danger here in Tephu, I was very curious. I wouldn't want to get caught up in that of course. You are all such a serious bunch aren't you!" She adds with a little giggle. "Well it seems that you are all very busy here in Tephu and I wouldn't want to spoil your celebrations on your day off from researching. Oh look, it is Darius, an old friend! If you would please excuse me?" Talibah smiles as she makes off to speak to another party-goer.
|
|
Even if Say'ri wasn't already suspicious of her, that deflection was transparent enough that it would have raised her suspicions regardless. A hand on Uthe's arm restrains the amurrun's amorous advances enough that Say'ri can keep half an eye and at least some of her attention on Talibah.
Definitely following her now. She decides.
--------------------------------------------------
To that end Say'ri slips away from the party on the barge early and conceals herself at a distance - although still close enough to pick out Talibah and her body guards with a reasonable degree of confidence.
Seeing their leader depart, Adol joins Uthe, and Jazadi should she have managed to extract herself from Muminofrah."Those people are bad news. Their aura's read as evil, and fairly potent at that too. You say you were shot during the race? My money would be on cultists, or someone working for them."
Starting to lose sight of Say'ri, his face hardens. "I can't let her go alone in good conscience, and while I can't hide like her, I have some... tricks. But what to turn into..."
Realizing he was talking to a catfolk a moment later, he shrugs. There wasn't much time to think, and surely cats had keen scent to track Say'ri if he lost her! What could possibly go wrong?
He paces to the side where he thinks is out of sight for the street, then casts Alter Self, and his form shifts, changing into a male amurrun, one with reddish and slightly curled fur in places to resemble his former hair.
Catform Adol quickly takes off his shirt again to stuff it in his haversack, as Talibah had seen it. "All these impressions..." he mutters staring down the street and glancing between that and his fur. "No, never mind. Quick, Uthe, before I go, is there something I should know about the way your people act in public? The very brief version!"
Jazadi bows her head once before making good her escape and rejoining the others.
Oh praise Brigh.
-------------------
The archaeologist nods. "Sounds about right."
Having no real way of disguising herself, Jazadi opts to go for a more stealthy approach when following Say'ri.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Uthe looks around in confusion as first Say'ri takes off after the new woman and then as Adol transforms to a amurrun - a quite handsome one, at that.
Catform Adol quickly takes off his shirt again to stuff it in his haversack, as Talibah had seen it. "All these impressions..." he mutters staring down the street and glancing between that and his fur. "No, never mind. Quick, Uthe, before I go, is there something I should know about the way your people act in public? The very brief version!"
Almost instinctively, she responds, "'Sab shikaar hai.'" Seeing the incomprehension on Adol's face, she shakes her head. "'Everything is prey'," she translates. "Go!" she says, giving him a shove. "Keep Say'ri safe."
With that, she returns to the buffet and tries to avoid thinking about what may happen to the group without her there to protect them.
Talibah makes haste down the River Sphinx through the markets winding along the river bank decked out for the festival, the bodyguards following on closely behind her footsteps. The bodyguards regularly glance backwards, to check for any tails but seem reassured when they see nothing behind them. Its not too challenging a task to track them through the festival, as most citizens are lazily lounging around or gathering with family and friends, laughing and lounging in the sun, feet dangling in the river.
Jazadi is instrumental in the covert pursuit, as she is able to get closer than usual to her quarry without being spotted, enabling the Falcons to not lose sight of them. Adol attracts many a curious look from the citizens of Tephu, as a red-haired Amurrun is not such a common sight.
After a little while dashing along the river banks in the over-bearing sun the trio dash into an alleyway sixty foot ahead. 3 seconds later, not giving Say'ri or her companions enough time to catch up, the bodyguards reappear from the alleyway with a different charge; a man, well over six foot with elaborate golden vambraces and a falchion on his hip. All three hastily make their way onto a small river dock and into a small boat before casting off to head downstream.
In the meantime, whilst Say'ri, Jazadi and Ammon are tracking the suspicious interloper, Uthe eats more than her fair share of a rich assortment of foods, after Jamie stated that she did not believe that Uthe would be brave enough to try all of the delicacies. The Amuurun wins her bet and her stomach suffers the consequences.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I know it was only the three of us, but I can't help but feel not acting here is going to bite us in rear later..." Adol says, squinting his now yellow eyes against the midday sun. "Still, we know what they look look, and that they detected as evil. And perhaps, who leads them. That's something, at least."
He looks down at his furred hand and extends and detracts the claws from it. "Interesting. I guess this form might be useful in combat, too. Even if the tail really messes with my balance, I can see why that's their motto..."
Re-uniting with Uthe is the easy part, extracting the rest of the Falcons from Muminofrah's barge without causing offense is the harder part.
The next day, you all head to the Grand Library to find directions to the Dark Depository. It would appear that Jazadi's wish was made true by Her Excellency Muminofrah and the curators happily give your directions. The curators also warn you that few scholars tread the library's dark halls and that the forbidden knowledge held within the Dark Depository has spawned things that have never seen the sun.
The directions are easy enough to follow, but when enacted, lead to the district called Wadjet’s Walk, at the bottom of a deep shaft that appears to be nothing more than an abandoned well.
The entrance to the Dark Depository lies at the bottom of a 450-foot-deep shaft, accessible by a series of iron ladders bolted to the wall. With a little team work, its not too dificult to make your way down to the real entrance below ground level.
A set of bronze double doors is set into the eastern wall at the bottom of the shaft.