Seeing that Xylian was done with his initial capture of the area, Zharis takes the tablet and uses her Pocket Linguist to scan the text as an aid to translation.
Don't speak Aklo, but my pocket linguist notes patterns to help you decipher things. It also doubles the time it takes (2 minutes instead of one minute if it is 250 words or fewer), but (barring special circumstances) a 30 should be good enough for "intricate, exotic, or very old writing."
Xylian tests how tightly the mummy is holding on to its treasures, operating under the assumption that its hands had been removed by the previous looters who wanted whatever items the missing hands held.
Zharis examines the text with the aid of a portable pattern-recognition device, but can only recognise a few scattered words--it's as if the fragments surface on the tablet out of murky depths only to disappear quickly! Meanwhile, Xylian tests how tightly the creature holds onto its treasures.
Zharis:
One fragment seems to say something like "Deep Ezorod makes way for the First" while another says "Each map has one key." It's clear that whatever the script on this tablet means, it would take extensive time and study by an expert in Aklo to make sense of it.
@Xylian: The rod and flower seem to be held loosely and would be easy to remove. The copper tablet seems clenched tightly. I would need a Strength check to pry it free.
@Zharis: I've rerolled your check below under cover of the spoiler. The reason for this is that a Culture check to Decipher Writing is rolled secretly because there's an explicit chance you misconstrue the text.
Strength Check (since I already said that I took the tablet):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Zharis is disappointed at only being able to get a couple of phrases from the tablet, and explains to the others that it will take a long time to interpret it. She wraps it up carefully so that people at the DCI can do more extensive study, and either puts it in her backpack, or, if Xylian still wants to examine it, gives it to him.
She gathers up the little models scattered across the floor as well, and checks the clothing the mummified creature is wearing, to see if it is worth trying to take that with them as well.
Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
After the group gathers up what they can, she puts her backpack on again and redraws her weapons, just in case they run into another experiment gone wild.
Zharis is able to free the tablet with little difficulty, but the mummy seems to lurch forward as if unbalanced before rocking back and settling into place.
@Zharis: You can go ahead and add the tablet and models to your inventory. The clothing doesn't look to have any particular value (though whether or not it's magical, you can't tell offhand).
The silver models on the floor look to be of mithral.
Jin searches the room carefully for any lurking threats.
Jin:
You don't find anything dangerous, but you do notice something odd: the mummy's hands have shifted slightly in the direction of the tablet, as though reaching for it.
Zharis checks the door to the north, and if it is unlocked, she opens it.
Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
If no one else has retrieved the rod/flower/hood-cloak-clothing, Zharis will gather them up for the party before doing this. (Don't care who takes them/has them... just want to make sure we have it all before leaving.)
Male NG Kanabo Guard Soldier 7 | SP 56/56 HP 33/55 | RP 8/6 | EAC 16; KAC 18 | Fort +6; Ref +4; Will +6 | Init: +2 | Perc: +11, SM: +1, Darkvision 60 ft. | Speed 25ft | 1/day — disguise self, supercharge weapon; Frenzied Fighting: +3 melee dmg, will save and -1 AC, +7 temp HP | Coordinated Shot, Lunge, Fire Resistance 7, Piercing DR 7
"The mummified creature seems to be slowly reaching for its treasures. If the previous looters have not taken them, it might have been for a good reason.” Jin warns the tomb raiding group.
"I don't see any reason why we might need to bring its things with us. If we find what was stolen, we can return the items. Keep the buriel chamber as intact as possible."
Despite Jin's warning that the mummy seems to have moved, and Zharis' attempt to open telepathic rapport, there seems to be no sign of life in the mummified, eight-armed humanoid.
m N duergar Biohacker 9 | sp 6/72 | hp 60/60 | rp 10/10 | EAC 21 KAC 22 [+4 bull rush and trip] | Resist Fire 5| F+9 R+3 W+8 [+2 vs poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities] [-2 vs emotions] | Init +1 | Perc +21, DV60' | Sense M +21, Li&Pi Science +21| Biohack 4/7 | BT + | Spark + | Tranq + | Rage + | Haste 9/10
I came back at a very interesting moment. Heh. GM, I posted that I would collect samples of biomaterial from this mummy. Did I succeed? Can I find out something interesting about it, for example, through a Medicine check?
Tulgram, who was collecting just at this moment a piece of skin from the mummy, shudders when he hears the words that it can move. But he continues to work. Controlled risk and toil will make a famous researcher out of a researcher, so he believes.
Zharis hands the tablet to Hani to see if he can learn anything additional.
I'm bringing the things. There is no guarantee that anyone we know will actually get back here... and we already know that other people have looted here. Anything we leave is likely to get stolen by someone else rather than preserved, which at least the DCI, or our original sponsors, will do. I'm not saying it is the ideal choice, but until we have more reliable transportation than a single experimental vessel, and we can set up a museum on site or something, it is dangerous to leave the things here... that gun I found was from the ignan people... the ones with the death collars. They blasted through that door. I'm definitely not leaving anything here for them.
Hani examines the tablet while Tulgram reviews the findings of his genetic sampling.
Tulgram:
Unfortunately, you're not able to tell much from the DNA sample of the mummy. It matches no species in your records and must be centuries, if not millennia, old.
Hani:
You're able, with great difficulty, to translate some isolated fragments that seem to bubble up onto the surface of the tablet before they break apart like waves crashing onto the rocks. "Darkness is the only respite from the murderous light" and "By binding the Incandescent Doom, salvation abides" You think making real sense of the tablet would take weeks or months or dedicated study by someone with a deep knowledge of Aklo and a lot of patience.
m N duergar Biohacker 9 | sp 6/72 | hp 60/60 | rp 10/10 | EAC 21 KAC 22 [+4 bull rush and trip] | Resist Fire 5| F+9 R+3 W+8 [+2 vs poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities] [-2 vs emotions] | Init +1 | Perc +21, DV60' | Sense M +21, Li&Pi Science +21| Biohack 4/7 | BT + | Spark + | Tranq + | Rage + | Haste 9/10
The DNA of this creature does not match the base of any other creature known to us. This creature must be centuries, if not millennia, old. Tulgram thoughtfully tries to scratch his beard, which he can't do with the life support system turned on. Who has null-camera? I would like to take it with us for a more detailed study later.
m N duergar Biohacker 9 | sp 6/72 | hp 60/60 | rp 10/10 | EAC 21 KAC 22 [+4 bull rush and trip] | Resist Fire 5| F+9 R+3 W+8 [+2 vs poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities] [-2 vs emotions] | Init +1 | Perc +21, DV60' | Sense M +21, Li&Pi Science +21| Biohack 4/7 | BT + | Spark + | Tranq + | Rage + | Haste 9/10
Okay. I hope I have enough samples of the material. It will be necessary to buy your own null container. Muttering something else to himself, Tulgram joins the search for a way to open a hike to the north.
A thorough search only confirms first impressions. The only way through the metal panels is the same method used by whatever outsiders came here recently: blasting them open!
Zharis shakes her head, not believing that whoever broke in here just came this far and stopped, or that the aliens just sealed off the whole place without a way to open the doors. There had to be another way, but she sure couldn't find it.
She pulls out the gun she found by the blown-open door earlier and hands it to Jin.
Maybe this will blow it open? I think it is what the other group used. I hate to do it, but looks like there is no other way in.
Then, remembering what Xylian said earlier she adds
Unless you guys want to stop now and go back? I mean, taking items from already looted areas is one thing, but blowing new areas open isn't exactly preserving this society. I also don't see anyone, AI or otherwise, to talk to, so I am not sure what is running the city. I hope it is farther within, but I don't know any other way to get to it.
m N duergar Biohacker 9 | sp 6/72 | hp 60/60 | rp 10/10 | EAC 21 KAC 22 [+4 bull rush and trip] | Resist Fire 5| F+9 R+3 W+8 [+2 vs poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities] [-2 vs emotions] | Init +1 | Perc +21, DV60' | Sense M +21, Li&Pi Science +21| Biohack 4/7 | BT + | Spark + | Tranq + | Rage + | Haste 9/10
I don't see any problems with that. We will assume that we have made an improvement in the type of ventilation here. Tulgram kneads his back and shoulders with the movements of an experienced athlete that are unexpectedly familiar to a slightly obese duergar. You know, there is nothing superfluous in these movements, but there is a clear feeling that the one who does them feels every muscle in his body, whether it is necessary to knead it and if so, how much... In short, Tulgram is preparing to put all his strength to break through further.
> blasting them open!
Can strong physical blows and not an explosion help here? I deal an average of 15 damage per hit.
Male NG Kanabo Guard Soldier 7 | SP 56/56 HP 33/55 | RP 8/6 | EAC 16; KAC 18 | Fort +6; Ref +4; Will +6 | Init: +2 | Perc: +11, SM: +1, Darkvision 60 ft. | Speed 25ft | 1/day — disguise self, supercharge weapon; Frenzied Fighting: +3 melee dmg, will save and -1 AC, +7 temp HP | Coordinated Shot, Lunge, Fire Resistance 7, Piercing DR 7
Maybe the setup is that they got eaten by the ooze that attacked us and didn't go ver far into the building
"We should uncover all the secrets as long as we are here." Jin accepts the weapon and moves to the northern door. "Stand back - it might have defenses against such actions." he starts blasting the door after a moment.
Using the breaching gun recovered from the pit of polyfluid, Jin begins blasting away at one of the door panels! The strange alien metal resists shell after shell before finally succumbing to the onslaught. Through the haze of acrid smoke, a long corridor can be seen stretching as far as the kanabo can see.
I'll roll some damage with the following parameters: The snub breaching gun has a base damage of 2d10 and will ignore 7 points of hardness. I'll add 6 points of damage for each shot due to Jin's weapon specialization. You found 22 scattergun shells for it.
Shot # 1 does 6 damage, shot # 2 does 7 damage, shot # 3 does 10 damage, shot # 4 does 3 damage, shot # 5 does 8 damage, shot # 6 does 1 damage. Shot # 7 does 5 damage, shot # 8 does 4 damage, shot # 9 does 2 damage, and shot # 10 does 2 damage. Shot # 11 does 10 damage. Shot # 12 does 5 damage. And you're through!
The corridor proceeds straight for nearly a hundred feet before turning to the right. There, another stretch of straight corridor leads to another inset door panel.
@Zharis: Thanks for the correction, you're absolutely right!
Jin levels the breaching gun again. In seconds, the floor before the door is littered with spent shell casings. But after a full ten blasts, the door made from the strange metal is still standing!
The ten shots aren't quite enough to blast through, unfortunately. The door is badly damaged, but still in place.
