GM JaceDK's Mummy's Mask: The Half-Dead City

Game Master Jacob Trier

Hence why I said 'begins' and 'cautiously' - I definitely do not want to get too far ahead! However, since searching takes time, I figure at least beginning to look is fine.

All good, Luke. I just want to make sure everyone are caught up before advancing the action.

Based on previous experience, I'm gonna hit pause on further exploration until everyone checks in and have a chance to get healing out of the way.

.

And on that note, how are people doing for resources and their once-per-day stuff? I'm starting to think a wandering monster or two could be worth the snooze. Hard to know, as there might not be many more encounters left here.

Attempted DC 17 Spellcraft check with guidance: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19

On seeing the nasty critters poof out of existence, Diorio pats himself all over checking, not believing that such things can happen.

"Gone? Just like that? Their awful bites were surely really. And just look at my pants!"

.

Nonetheless, she still runs her fingers through her hair, reflexively trying to pull out phantom roaches. For a few moments she still feels them crawling around, but she finds nothing.

"Thank the stars! Another minute of that and we might all have been dead."

Heh, I'm almost bummed. I think I had a cool long-shot move in the pipe to try out. I'll save it for the next swarm.

While the group recovers, Sobekhotep carefully cracks the secret door open to take a quick peek behind it.

He sees no further signs of danger, only a long narrow corridor leading east.

Nudge - what's the call on healing? A channel would certainly be an option, since most of you took minor damage.

"I'm good to go on, but I don't have any more alchemist's fire, so if more of these bugs come crawling, I might not be much help."

"My legs are pretty chewed up. I feel like I have been tenderized by a chef. I can take a healing draught if I need to. I have one flask of acid and one alchemist's fire left - here, you carry it. Better to spread our potential for destruction around."

Diorio passes his remaining fire flask to Indus.

Botting Lueck to get things moving.

With most of the party injured, Lueck gathers everyone in a circle around him. He intones a prayer to Sekhmet and raises his bronze battleaxe. Two pulses of golden healing light flash over everyone in the room, curing all traces of the cockroach bites.

Channel energy - healing: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Channel energy - healing: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Wow. I guess Sekhmet favored that particular use of her divine gifts. Onward down the corridor behind the secret door?

Group hug! Seben's at full, anyone else got any damage left after that?

As to where we go next... I am going to throw this out there.

Rather than the secret door, perhaps we should just get to what might possibly be the main event and check out the sarcophagus of Ahkentepi on the dais. If we're not resting, our once-per-day type resources are getting lower with every encounter and if the sarcophagus is the primary dungeon encounter, and we save it to the end, we'll face it even more depleted.

Now having said that, watch it turn out that it's just a plain old corpse and the actual encounter was the trap Indus disabled.

"Thanks, Diorio, I'll put it to good use!"

I'm good either way, but good point about depleted resources.

Sobekhotep gives Seben a surprised look.

"In rock-cut tombs of such grand scale as this one, it was not uncommon to have a 'false' burial chamber to try and fool tomb robbers.

Given the corridor we have just opened up is two secret doors, and a trap, beyond the 'burial chamber', I am confident in guessing that the 'true' burial chamber is further in."

Admittedly, I am basing that on a pastiche of 'Ancient Egypt' Pharaonic knowledge, but that sort of stuff has more-or-less seemed to hold true, thus far...

Luke, heads up, Seben didn't actually speak. I was just responding OOC to Jace's question.

Still, Sobek makes a fair point. If nobody is injured and nobody wants rest, fire away then.

In the interest of wrapping up this particular dungeon, I'm taking the exchange above as a green light to move on and investigate the secret corridor. As you might surmise from looking at the map, we're almost done.

With everyone healed up, the Smokin' Bask Brigade move carefully through the narrow passage behind the secret door. The passage is undecorated stone and ends in another stone door, featuring a large relief of Ahkentepi standing before Anubis, his heart perfectly balanced with a feather on the Scale of Judgement. Ignore the blue strip on the map, that is unrelated to this corridor.

After determining that the door is neither trapped nor locked, Sobekhotep pushes it open and peers into the room beyond.

A sarcophagus covered in gold leaf rests on a raised stone platform in the center of this chamber. The casket’s cover is carved the likeness of an adult man with his arms crossed over his chest, and covered in thick coat of dust.

Two ornate chests sit beyond the dais in the northeast and southeast corners, and between them stand two large funerary urns.

It seems Sobekhotep's knowledge of Ancient Osiriani tomb construction and burial customs was right on the money in this case.

Map updated

Indus carefully examines the space just inside the door and moves in if he deems it safe.

Is it safe? Unlike Dustin Hoffman's infamous trip to the dentist, it is indeed safe just inside the door.

As he moves closer to the sarcophagus, Indus can see the close resemblance to the other images you have seen throughout the tomb. This appears to indeed be Ahkentepi's final resting place.

Moving forward with due reverence (standard 'check for traps' set-up), Sobekhotep moves to check-out the urns, and coffers, leaving the sarcophagus (and its probably undead occupant) to last.

Heavy Metal Snake

As Sobekhotep examines the content of the room with help from Indus, both adventurer's miss the faint red glow of a pair of eyes that flicker to life in the shadows behind the sarcophagus.

When Sobekhotep bends to take a closer look at the chests in the corner, a distinct rasping sound of metal on stone is all the warning he has before he feels a sharp pain on his left upper arm. While the physical injury is minimal, the burning sensation spreading through his arm indicates that the bite itself is only part of the attack.

Sobekhotep, you take 1 hp of physical damage. Please make a DC 11 Fort save. On a fail, you take 1d2 ⇒ 1 Con damage and have to make a new save on your turn.

The hidden assailant soon becomes apparent to all as a metal cobra rises to it's full height of about a foot, interlocking iron scales reflecting dully in the torchlight. As is sways from side to side, its red eyes seem to seek for more targets to attack.

Initiative - round 1
>Seben-en-Ra, Lueck
- Cobra
- Indus, Diorio, Sobekhotep

Map updated

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21.

Sobekhotep barely notices the bite.

At the sounds of combat ahead, Lueck sprints forward, axe in hand. "Blood for Sekhmet!" he squeaks! When he sees it is a metal opponent, his expression wilts. "Sekhmet's curses upon you, contraption." His tongue lashes out, delivering a cursing rebuke upon the snake.

Using agile tongue to deliver touch of chaos, first of six uses for the day. For the next round, anytime the target rolls a d20, he must roll twice and take the less favorable result.

The Sacred Ibis soars into the room, gliding just beneath the ceiling.

Double move, as per the map. He misses his killer flight speed.

"Oh no," says Seben. "This is bad, really bad!"

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

She didn't want to do this but she knew she had to.

Seben traces the outline of an ankh in the air. Strangely in the present day, for many it is mistakenly interpreted as a symbol of life. but in actuality it is the key symbol for the gate between the land of the living and the afterward, life and death.

Casting the mighty Summon Nature's Ally I, full round action.

"Do it! You old buzzard!"

The Sacred Ibis shoots the young deadling a look. After all this time she still does not understand the risks of meddling with such forces.

Yet, he complies. . . as he must. For he is the will of Toth incarnate.

The Sacred ibis' wings flare out to the sides, impossibly so, and his feet snap together. An outline of golden fire begins to trace across his form.

He begins to become the ankh itself, the great gate to the afterward. the brightness of its light flares across the ceiling in the center of the room.

"Squuuuaaaaa--" The avian's screech cut short as he is consumed by the light.

Heavy Metal Snake

Lueck, remember that you have to hit your target with a melee touch attack for the touch of chaos to work. I rolled for you this time.

The grippli's long tongue lashes out and strikes the metal snake, but rather than deliver a healing spell, it sows the seeds of chaos within the mechanical serpent.

However, at this time chaos seems to favor damage and destruction, as the cobra launces another strike at Sobekhotep, this time much deadlier. It lashes out with lightning speed, tearing deep lacerations into the wizard's face and pumping another dose of venom into him. 5 dmg and another DC 11 Fort save.

Initiative - round 1
- Seben-en-Ra, Lueck
- Cobra
> Indus, Diorio, Sobekhotep

Bolded PCs are up, then on to round 2.

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4.

Sobekhotep steps jab, and jabs at it with his spear.

MW Cold Iron Longspear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9, for 1d8 ⇒ 5 damage.

Indus sends a thought to Bes as he tries to weave his way past the serpentine form's reach to get a vantage point on one of the chests.

Acrobatics to avoid attack of opportunity: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12

Acrobatics to jump up on the chest: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26

Attack with luck: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 8

Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

... but apparently the goddess isn't favoring his endeavors today ...

Seeing his friend savaged by the strange serpent, Diorio springs into action. Running forward, he leaps on to the sarcophagus to attempt a coupe attack, drawing the snake's attention to then disengage its strike and run it through.

Acrobatics move: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Acrobatics to avoid attack of opportunity: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

coupe attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

He then sets himself ready to counter-parry-riposte the snakes return strike if necessary. Will use a Panache point for Opportune Parry/Ripose if applicable

Wow! That has got to be the worst set of four rolls in a row ever! Tell me there was a banana peel that I stepped on.

Wow! That is an inordinate number of rolled “1”’s for the party. Is it a coincident that they came right after Sekhemet’s curse was invoked? Do not mess with the frog!

The giant glowing ankh floating across the ceiling opens up, displaying a yawning portal to the afterlife.

Seben dares to cross a forbidden line and calls forth from that portal, the return of one of the most recent occupants of the afterworld. . .

Summon Nature’s Ally finishes, range 30 feet to deploy an unspeakable death machine on the western-most 5-foot portion of the sarcophagus.

. . . It’s Clive! Remember me? I’m back baby!
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"What's this! First the solifugids raid our warrens and then we have to abandon perfectly good tunnels because some wierd sand snake decides to crash on the stairs. And now we have some wierd, two-legged flesh things walking in and waving light around!?"

"Clive, please...if we just ignore them, they will probably leave."
"No, Betty, I have had it. A beetle can only take so much abuse in his own home. I'm going out there to show those intruders what's what."
"No! Clive, think of the brood...I can't raise them all on my own."
"I have to, Betty...what kind of a father would I be if I did not stand up for them and the hive. I love you....Now, let me....HEY YOU THERE, JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? THIS IS OUR HOME AND YOU ARE TRESPASSING! SCRAM, BEFORE I SHOW YOU THE BUSINESS END OF MY MANDIBLES!"

.

The beetle’s shimmering carapace is covered in a jagged spiderweb of lines where it was shattered by the longsword of Indus, only an hour ago.

I am probably reskinning Clive here, this version is just a 1/3 CR fire beetle. Though for all I know, that’s what he was before.

Clive takes a 5-foot step to the eastern edge of the sarcophagus. Hoping for +1 for height advantage. (That’s right Anakin, Clive has the high ground…)

Attempted bite with business mandibles with height advantage: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 1 = 11

Possible damage from business mandibles: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The savage beetle seeks to get right up into the grill of the snake and demand its attention.

Seben focusses on the will of Toth, and her destiny as a sacred assassin.

Move action to draw her wand of gravity bow. Standard action to expend one charge and cast gravity bow on herself.

The Ankh portal collapses, and the Sacred Ibis reappears, circling around the ceiling once more. He is clearly displeased with Seben at being used in such a way.

The Sacred Ibis will delay so that he goes after the cobra, but before Indus and Diorio take their actions - he's hoping to use his Aid Another to the benefit of one of the two of our heavier damage dealers.

Heavy Metal Snake

Alright, lots of things happening. Lets take them one by one.

The crowded burial chamber erupts in chaos as the Smokin' Bask Brigade (and a summoned enemy turned ally) all surge forward and engage the iron cobra.

Sobekhotep feels the poison burn in his body and it seems to affect his aim. Miss and 2 Con damage. You must roll a new Fort save on your next turn.

Indus is too focused on his daring leap onto the chest to avoid exposing himself to an attack from the cobra. Even with Lueck's Touch of Chaos, the metal serpent manages to strike the young explorer, and the sudden pain makes him miss his own attack 2 dmg and DC 11 Fort save vs poison.

Diorio barely manages to leap onto the stone sarcophagus, struggling to maintain his balance. Fortunately for him, the iron cobra is too busy attacking Indus to exploit his moment of vulnerability, but his own clumsy attack does not even come near the snake. No AoO since Indus already triggered it this round.

Seben-en-Ra summons a familiar beetle ally back from to life. He fights valiantly, but in vain, while Seben enhances her archery with magic. From his well-earned hero's rest in the afterlife to more combat and pain...let's hope the BPS don't hear about this.

For those of you keeping score, it's Iron Cobra: 3, Smokin' Bask Brigade: 0 after round 1

Initiative - round 2
- Seben-en-Ra, Lueck
- Cobra
- Sacred Ibis
- Indus, Diorio, Sobekhotep

Lueck, then the cobra again. Also, don't forget about the Knowledge (Arcana) spoiler above.

Thanks! Knowledge (Arcana) is untrained over here...

New plan then, if he cobra is out of Attacks of Opportunity, the Sacred Ibis should slip in there before it resets. He comes off delay. . . or was he never on it?

The Sacred Ibis darts down from the ceiling and tries to grasp the cobra by its tail with its slender beak. Finding it far too heavy to carry, he gives it a quick flick, trying to keep it off-balance.

Flyby Attack to end the Sacred Ibis' turn in the same spot he started. The intervening standard action will be an Aid Another attempt.

Aid Another attempt vs AC 10, with Animal Focus (tiger): 1d20 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 13

P.S. Just incase it wasn't implied, that's for the +2 buff to attack for the next attacker.

Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Seeing Sobek take another dose of venom, Lueck decides to fortify the valiant warrior. He springs straight up to get a clear view of Sobek and then graces him with a soft 'splut' from his freakishly long tongue.

Ready wand of clw in off hand, use a charge and deliver it with his tongue. Heals Sobek for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7.

"I've heard of these. Iron Cobras. They are crafted as cowardly assassins. At least there is a limit to the poison they can carry, unlike a flesh and blood predator."

As if to prove Lueck's words, the Iron Cobra rises up and feints at first one opponent, then another, until finally lashing out at Indus, striking too fast for him to avoid.

The injury leaves another bleeding bite wound on Indus' arm, but he does not feel the burn of poison. Indus takes 1 dmg - no new poison, but you still have to make a DC 11 Fort save for the last bite.

Initiative - round 2
- Seben-en-Ra, Lueck
- Cobra
- Sacred Ibis
- Indus, Diorio, Sobekhotep

Iron Cobra: 4 - Smokin' Bask Brigade: 0. Who get's to score the first hit against this animated assassin?

MW Cold Iron Longspear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18, for 1d8 ⇒ 7 damage.

Fort:1d20 ⇒ 4.

Sobekhotep continues to lash out, even as his body is further ravished by poison.

Sobekhotep times his thrust perfectly, but is unable to penetrate the snake’s metal scales. Miss.

The poison continues to burn its way through his veins. Con dmg: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Indus and Diorio are up

Keeping his actions simple this time, Diorio looks for any chinks in this metal foe to exploit.

slash: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

confirm crit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

crit damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 12

Fort Save: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 0 + 2 = 16

Indus recoils in pain from the sharp fangs but presses the attack.

Attack from high ground: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 = 12

The two swordfighters finally manage to damage the cobra. Both hits dent the serpent, even though it is apparent that the hardened metal absorbs some of the damage.

Initiative - round 3
- Seben-en-Ra, Lueck
- Cobra
- Sacred Ibis
- Indus, Diorio, Sobekhotep

Seeing the warriors struggling with the snake, Lueck pulls his net off of his belt. With a measure of grace, he flings it at the serpent, trying to restrict its ability to poison his friends.

Small net ranged touch attack, to hit 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23. If successful, the snake is entangled.

Edit: I'm going to guess that's a success.

With perfect aim, Lueck's net sails over the combatants and entangles the iron cobra. It struggles in vain to escape.

Seben steps into the chamber to get a better line of fire to the cobra. She draws back her magically enhanced bow and let's a single arrow fly.

Ranged attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 miss
Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 1 = 6 N/A

Clive the brave summoned beetle tries his best to aid in the battle. But either he's fed up with fighting or he secretly bears some kind of grudge towards the Smokin' Bask Brigade. Either way, his heart is simply not in it. In a flash, he returns to whatever celestial realm he was summoned from.
Attack - Aid another: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6 Unsuccessful

Even hampered by the net, the animated metal snake is still dangerous. It lashes out again... but the net prevents it from landing the strike.

Cobra target - 1=Diorio, 2=Indus: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Cobra Bite vs Indus: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 miss
Cobra Bite dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2 N/A

The Scred Ibis hops down and pecks at the cobra - Aid Another attempt vs AC 10, with Animal Focus (tiger): 1d20 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 28

...and unlike Clive (that slacker), it is extremely successful in its efforts. +2 to Attack to either Indus or Diorio

Initiative - round 3
- Seben-en-Ra, Lueck
- Cobra
- Sacred Ibis
- Indus, Diorio, Sobekhotep

Bolded PCs are up - Sobekhotep, another Fort save vs poison, please.

Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 3.

MW Cold Iron Longspear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 Vs. DC 10.

Even as the poison continues to ravage his system, Sobekhotep stubbornly refuses to give up on helping out.

Diorio can have a +2 to hit ;-)

CON Dmg to Sobek: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Reminder that at least one of you has a potion of neutralize poison, as you have not used the one Rashid gave you as reward for chasing off the pugwampi

Seeing the foe disabled by the net, but still dangerous, Diorio redoubles his efforts to find a weak spot.

Rapier slash Aided: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11

damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Doh! Another 1! Time to sacrifice something to the dice gods.

Indus is torn between defeating the metallic serpent and helping his friend. He intones an arcane word, causing his blade to shimmer with a faint blue light and strikes at his foe, landing a solid blow against it.

Attack with luck and arcane strike: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 22
Damage with luck and arcane strike: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 13

Then he draws his magical whip and drops it between Diorio's feet.

"Here, Sobek! Grasp it and it will help you fight off the venom!"

With a mighty blow, Indus severs the head of the metallic cobra, sending the construct clattering down on the stones.

Combat over, but we'll stay in initiative until Sobekhotep's poison problem is resolved.

Fort: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4.
1d2 ⇒ 1
Fort: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13.

After a bit of effort, Sobekhotep manages to fight off the poison, and gives Indus an anaemic smile.

"Well done! That was a solid blow..."

EDIT: Added a spoiler with the info on Akhentepi's armor.

Although weakened by the poison, it appears that Sobekhotep is not yet done with this revolution of his life-wheel.

Pushing aside the broken remains of the animated guardian, the Smokin' Bask Brigade examine the chamber and its content.

Inside the sarcophagus, the mummified body of Akhentepi is interred. The body wear an exquisitely crafted gold funerary mask (worth 500 gp).

The urns are made of bronze and appear to have once contained leaves or incense, but now hold nothing more than ashes and dust.

One of the chests contains a suit of padded armor, undoubtedly what Akhentepi wore in life. The suit is in pristine condition and radiates magic

The other chest holds a disintegrating cloth sack filled with 500 gp in coins, as well as a small, well-preserved darkwood coffer (worth 50 gp). Inside the coffer is a potion of darkvision, a potion of lesser restoration, an ornate lapis and carnelian pendant (worth 70 gp), and an assortment of carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise semiprecious stones (worth a total of 55 gp).

At this point, you have effectively explored all of Akhentepi's tomb. There is still enough sunlight to haul all the treasure you found back to the surface and make your way out of the Necropolis. Unless anyone objects, I'll narrate your return to the city in another post later tonight.

I certainly vote *not* staying in the necropolis overnight, unless we have to ;-)

Sobekhotep, despite stumbling occasionally, helps to itemise the recovered items...

...after bowing to the mummy, and offering up a brief prayer.

"Oh Anubis, who watches over the mummification process, and Osiris, who watches over their souls in the afterlife; please forgive these mortals for disturbing the rest of a noble soul such as this."

He then makes sure that the body is disturbed as little as possible.

Spellcraft, Guidance: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24.

Feeling inspired by the Old Gods (whether or not it is one of the two that he just invoked is known only to Them), Sobekhotep adds:

"Akhentepi's Armour appears to be +1 stanching padded armor of traditional Osirian design. It also helps the wearer to be aware of impending peril."

Feel free to read the spoiler.

I have also updated the loot list. If anyone wants anything in particular, speak up; otherwise, I guess we will be visiting the merchants in order to liquidate it.