Indus examines each item carefully and assists Sobek in appraising them. To those watching his face it is clear that his excitement has little to do with the items' monetary value and more to do with their cultural significance.
Once they have examined everything and carefully packed them away, Indus suggests they make haste back to the City of the Living.
Once they have examined everything and carefully packed them away, Indus suggests they make haste back to the City of the Living.
"Indeed, let's get out of here. I'm thankful that we have succeeded where the renowned Chester Copperpot failed. I will also be thankful for a long bath and to not see another bug for awhile."
Working as swiftly as possible, the Smokin’ Bask Brigade gather up all the different items and treasures from Akhentepi’s tomb.
To your relief, the rope leading out of the entry shaft is still there and intact, and the massive stone wheel is firmly in place in the open position.
With a bit of ingenuity, you manage to rig the remains of Akhentepi’s destroyed chariot into a makeshift cart to carry most of the chests and larger objects. It may be worthless as a historic relic, but it saves you a good bit of heavy lifting.
By the time everything is hauled out of the tomb and loaded, the sun is already sinking towards the western horizon. There is still plenty of daylight for the journey back to the main entrance, but the long shadow cast by Pharasma’s needle as you reach the large gates serve as a potent reminder not to lose track of time during your future explorations.
Fortunately, you make it out of the Necropolis without incident, although Sobekhotep is clearly suffering from the effects of the Iron Cobra’s venomous bite. Armed guards from the Voices of the Spire greet you as you clear the gates and cross out your team’s name on a papyrus scroll listing all the teams that entered. You note that almost all other teams are already marked as returned.
As you stop to catch your breath in the square before the gates, several lingering onlookers regard you with curiosity. Suddenly, a handful of street urchins rush up to greet you. Indus immediately recognizes the Plovers, the band of orphans he befriended earlier.
”Indus! Indus! We knew you and your friends would make it out safely.” calls Nasira, the cheerful girl with black curls and bright brown eyes. Behind her, Tariq “Quickfingers” casts an appraising look at your haul.
”Nice score – of all the returning teams, I’d say you have brought out the most treasure. Some of the others came out practically empty-handed, and some seemed to be missing a few team members,” Quickfingers says, then pauses as Farida, the shy girl the others call “Mouse” tugs on his sleeve and whispers something. ”Ah yeah….Farida spotted the woman with the large hat and her companions coming out a few hours ago. They were not hurt, and carried a few sacks, but the woman looked angrier than Grub after a week without dinner.”
The kids continue to chatter and offer to bring you fresh water and help carry the cargo as you contemplate your next move.
Seben scours the tomb from top to bottom. She tries to balance being respectful of the dead with being thorough.
Whatever she's looking for, she's not finding it and trying to hide the frustration of her disappointment. She's not excited about the loot.
Indus lights up in a big smile when he sees the Plovers and eagerly listens to their report.
"Thanks my young friends, you have done well. Better than I had hoped. If you meet us at the Tooth and Hookah in about two hours, I'll have Farhaan prepare a feast for you."
"I agree with your priorities, my friend. Check in and report, then head back to the Tooth."
At the thought of the honeyed crickets waiting back at the inn, Lueck's mouth starts to water.
Aided by the Plovers, the Smokin' Bask Brigade continue to haul their heavy load towards the Grand Mausoleum.
When they arrive, the sun is sinking down towards the rooftops. There is still plenty of activity at the temple, thought. The street kids scatter as acolytes arrive to escort you into a waiting room. Here, they help arrange your cargo, setting chests and urns against the side of the wall and laying out weapons and smaller items on a table. Others arrive with a light selection of food and refreshing drinks.
After a short wait, Sebti the Crocodile enters followed by a middle-aged man dressed as a scribe. You seem to recall that he was also present at the lottery ceremony.
"Welcome back, Smokin' Bask Brigade. We are glad to see you all safely returned from the Necropolis" the Pharasmin high priestess greets you. She motions to the arrayed collection of treasure.
"It would appear that you have been most successful in your exploration of you assigned site..." Sebti continues, pausing slightly.
"The tomb of Ahkentepi, High Priestess. Believed to pre-date the outbreak of the plague and hold the remains of a local military figure of some significance," the scribe immediately offers with respectful efficiency.
"Ah, yes." Sebti replies, gesturing to the man. "This is Sabu, senior scribe in the temple archives. He would greatly appreciate a full report of your exploration and a brief description of what you found and brought back. As agreed, all you recover is yours to keep or sell, but the Necropolis holds our shared history, which belongs to all citizens of Wati. Once he his satisfied that you have completed your assignment, he will provide you with the details for the next one."
Sabu the Scribe steps forward and makes a short, formal bow. "A pleasure to meet you all in person, Smokin' Bask Brigade. Please, relax and partake of the refreshment while we talk. Now, please, tell me...have you explored all of the location assigned to you and what did you learn about its history and occupant?"
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Sobekhotep bows politely.
"The entrance was blocked by a heavy rolling stone, and the initial iconography gave equal deference to both Anubis and Pharasma.
Immediately inside was a vertical shaft, and at the bottom was the body of a half-elf, who had clearly attempted to... 'explore' the tomb, and met his end when he fell, and broke both his legs. We left his skeleton where it fell.
Beyond that, we found a corridor that depicted evidence Akhentepi had participated in battles as a commander - bas reliefs of great battles, with Akhentepi riding in a chariot.
We also found evidence that he had a wife and two children, but lost all three in a great tragedy some time before his own death.
It appears that he enjoyed hunting, and had left numerous trophies in a display room. There were also two metal books, the first a brief biography of Akhentepi, and the second a list and description of the various military campaigns conducted by the nation of Osirion between 2350 and 2450 AR. There were also several scroll tubes holding papyrus records, private memos, expense ledgers, speeches, and private correspondence.
There was a preparation chamber, where Akhentepi's body would have been mummified, and a strange mirror that showed an illusion of (presumably) Akhentepi staring disapprovingly at anyone reflected in it.
We found a partially-finished burial chamber that belonged to Akhentepi's mistress, whom he met years after his family's death. Her name was Didibastet, and we learned some intriguing information about her: She was a priestess of the hidden goddess Nuit-Shaes; we found both a mystery cult book, and a holy symbol.
Thereafter, we found a false burial chamber, where the slaves who built it had been buried, and behind a secret door, the passage to the *true* burial chamber. We found Akhentepi's sarcophagus, and after determining that he was *not* animated, we treated him with dignity, and left his body in peace.
The hazards we faced within the tomb were traps, several types of vermin, and a few different types of construct.
I would say that it was relatively challenging (especially the final guardian - a venomous metal snake) - I certainly would not have wanted to send inexperienced delvers into it!"
Both Sebti and Sabu listen with interest to Sobek's tale, with Sabu scribbling notes with practiced ease. He looks over the the table to identify each item as they are mentioned, adding them to his report
"Most interesting and thorough report, I must say,"[/]he says. [b]"The content of the various documents and books would make valuable additions to our archives. I realize their worth to a collector, but perhaps you would permit us to keep them until tomorrow? We should be able to make complete transcriptions by then. In return, we can offer medical aid to cure the injuries you appear to have sustained."
Indus nods in agreement. "By all means, they should be copied and added to your archives. Only that way will history be preserved."
Indus then shows them the whip, they found.
"This, I believe, was a sacred weapon to priests of Nuit-Shaes. It is clearly enchanted and seems to have some power over snakes." Indus allows them to examine it before placing it back at his side.
Seben stays uncomfortably quiet during the recital and sips the refreshments, still glad to be out of the tomb.
The Sacred Ibis is not with her, glad to have the chance to stretch its wings amongst the sky once more.
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After Sobek's and Indus' erudite statements Diorio is feeling a bit left out. He steps forward in what he hopes is a dramatic pose.
"Behold! Look at my torn and tattered pants! Chewed and shredded by hordes of carniverous bugs that winked into existence and then disappeared only after trying to make a meal out of us. I will now need new pants."
Sabu looks a bit perplexed at Diorio's sudden outburst, but Sebti lets her dignified demeanor crack into a heartfelt laugh.
"You pants do indeed seem to have suffered horrendous hardships, sir. If you wish, I can have an acolyte pray for our Lady of the Graves to mend them as I will gladly mend you bodies and restore you to full health."
With a flourish, she raises the holy symbol around her neck and intones a short prayer to Pharasma. Healing energy washes over you all. Then she approaches Sobekhotep and lays a gentle hand on his blue skin as she casts another restorative spell that fully restores his strength.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries and handing over all books and documents, you bid farewell to the Pharasmins and head towards the Tooth & Hookah.
As soon as you enter, Farhaan greets you with a cheer and a smile as wide as his outstretched arms.
"Welcome back, my chosen heroes! Your little friends have already been by to tell us of your triumphant return from the Necropolis, piled high with gold and other treasures. I knew my instincts for spotting proper tomb raiders had not dulled over the years. Come, and tell all your tales while we celebrate."
The common room is already a bit busier than usual and more curious patreons arrive even as you enter and unload your gear. Layla and Amina are both busy serving drinks and bringing scented tobacco for the hookah's and judging from the sounds and scents coming from the kitchen, Imran is hard at work creating another heroes feast for you.
"Farhaan, my friend," Indus yells over the hustle and bustle of the place, ducking into the outstretched hug. "We have certainly returned and with plenty of adventure behind us. Did my young friends also tell you to prepare a feast?" he says with a smile.
"Once we have slipped out of our adventuring gear, we'll happily regale you with tales of our heroics, right gang?" Indus says, looking to his companions for confirmation.
"Yes, yes of course," answers Seben with another lie. "A feat sounds wonderful. Thank you."
Seben wonders if she might instead stick her head inside the maw of the Tooth and Hookah's famous crocodile.
Makin her excuses, she skulks upstairs to her temporary room, hoping to brainstorm better excuses to avoid the feast.
Having spent the last day in failure she hardly wants to celebrate in a crowd of the living.
I searched that blasted tomb from top to bottom, almost got some good people killed in the process... and all I have to show for it is more failed arrow shots.
Once secreted in her room, Seben crashes on the bed, trying to gameplan if she should stick it out for one more tomb, or if she should be reasonable. It wasn't too late to disappear in the middle of the night. None would find her, if they cared to look. From there she could re-think her plan.
"Excellent. I can have the girls bring the food up to your private quarters, if any of you prefer to rest away from the attention of the other guests. And there will be plenty of time to tell the tales of your adventures - in fact, I'm hosting an event for all the teams participating in the exploration of the Necropolis tomorrow evening. They are certain to have stories of their own to trade." Farhaan says with enthusiasm.
Indus looks after Seben, as she ascends the stairs, but shrugs, sensing nothing wrong. We could all need some rest I guess, that sand gets in everywhere.
Then he heads upstairs himself to wash off the dust and get a fresh change of clothes.
Exhausted from the underground ordeal, Lueck goes upstairs with the others. He strips out of his armor and sets up his bucket. With a quick prayer, the bucket magically fills with cool, pure water. He wastes no time sinking butt first into the water, letting his feet and arms dangle over the sides.
Sensing that the members of the Smokin' Bask Brigade are all weary from their exploration, Farhaan and his staff limit the planned feast to a more modest private meal delivered to the enclosed rooftop courtyard of the team's quarters.
Besides his bucket, Lueck can cool off by splashing in the central fountain, while the rest lounge on soft pillows.
Farhaan is thrilled when he is presented with the severed head of the Iron Cobra. "A magnificent gift, my friends, much beyond what I expected!" he exclaims, then pauses with a thoughtful look. "I know just what to do with this - I'll leave you to you rest and look forward to the celebration tomorrow. I trust you will all attend, you'd practically be the guests of honor!" he says before wrapping up the metal head and rushing off.
Peace settles in the courtyard as the sun sinks below the rooftops.
The next morning, you awaken in your private rooms after an uninterrupted night. When you make it downstairs, you find the morning meal waiting for you.
Before long, the regular merchants arrive, eager to see what you have brought back for sale.
While they peruse you wares, a messenger arrives from the Grand Mausoleum with the books and other documents you let the scribes copy. Attached is a note from Sebti the Crocodile thanking you again for your contribution to the archives and for honoring the rules of the Necropolis exploration. The note informs you that your next assignment is available in two days, Fireday the 2nd of Lamashan.
The next morning... Seben goes shopping.
Feeling refreshed the next morning, Indus seeks out his urchin friends. When he finds them, he treats them all to breakfast. During the meal he asks them to find a master armorer to have his armor enchanted.
During the meal he asks them to find a master armorer to have his armor enchanted.
Feeling out of his element being flush with more funds than he has had in a very long time, Diorio is unsure what to do, that is until he overhears Indus talking to endearing pack of kids that follow him around like puppies.
"That is a wonderful idea Indus. My fighting leathers definitely could use a dash of magical flair. Mind if I tag along."
"The more, the merrier, Diorio," Indus says with a smile. "I'm sure these kids can help us, and better armor would be nice before our next foray into a tomb."
Indus takes another big bite of a juicy orange, then adds, "Oh, by the way, would you mind sparring a bit with me later? My fighting style is somewhat cruder than yours, more reliant on instinct and ... well, let's call it luck, and I'm sure I could learn a thing or two from you."
While digging into the morning meal with great delight, the Plovers happily share their knowledge of local merchants with Indus and Diorio.
"Well, you have already visited the Sunburst Market, you can find pretty much anything there, both weapons and armor. Many of the merchants have a couple of magic items to sell, but if you are looking for something really special, I heard there was a new armorer opening a shop in the Midwife district, just a few block away from the market," Quickfinger says, slapping Grub's hand to keep the always ravenous urchin from snatching one of the apple slices he's carefully carving with a small, sharp-looking blade.
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Sobekhotep is happy to explain the precise provenance of the items up for sale, keen for the items not to have their context lost, no matter where they end up.
An item that has lost its place is a piece of flotsam upon the the River of Time... bereft of meaning.
He will then ask around the merchant for a couple of specific items.
"I do not expect you to have either item in stock, but I am sure that for merchants such as yourselves, finding them should be but a trivial task."
Despite their efforts not to appear too excited, the resident merchants in the Tooth & Hookah are clearly delighted by the assorted treasures that the Smookin' Bask Brigade offer them for sale.
"I suppose we could get a few coppers for this, but we'd have to spend half the day cleaning off two centuries worth of dust and grime," Zara Ibrahim says with calculated indifference as she turns over one of the deity masks that were mounted on the wall of the tomb. Then she cast an annoyed glance at her husband Nadir, who is captivated by Akhentepi's funeral mask.
"Owned by a famous general and guarded for centuries by an iron cobra with deadly venom and eyes burning crimson in the darkness..." he says, his thick beards practically twitching with a bright smile before he catches his wife's stern glare. "Erhm...yes...those are quite common these days, with all the groups combing through the Necropolis. I do believe we got another one just like it yesterday."
Meanwhile, the Curio Collector Jabari Al-Masri carefully examines the book describing the religious practices of the clergy of Niut-Shaes. "A rare find indeed...Very little is known of the snake-cults, since they all but disappeared during the rule of the Keleshite satraps. This should fetch a fine price with a scholar or collector. I will play handsomely for similar repositories of ancient knowledge."
Among the wares of the Trinket Merchants Zara and Nadir, Seben-en-Ra finds both a ioun troch and an enchanted garment that allows her to change clothing with frequent intervals. And the merchants are certain that they can procure the items Sobekhotep seek from the Embalmer's Guild, which apparently have a wide selection of objects marked witht he symbols of Anubis and Pharasma, intended for pets that join thier masters in the afterlife.
In the Midwife district, Indus and Diorio locate the new armorer's shop a few blocks away from the market, but it appears that it is still under construction and not yet formally opened for business. A neighbor informs you that the owner is away on business in Sothis, but is expected to return in a few days.
As the sun begins to sink, you return to the Tooth & Hookah where the crowd of guests is already growing. You spot both your fellow tomb raiders and plenty of curious townsfolk, clearly come in hopes of hearing a daring tale or two from the explorers of the Necropolis.
Just before the formal start of the event, a messenger delivers a heavy-looking object wrapped in cloth to Farhaan. His excitement is obvious as he places the mysterious package on the bar and turns to greet the gathering.
More guests continue to pour into the Tooth & Hookah and both Farhaan and the two serving girls are working overtime to keep up with the calls for drinks and food.
Seated at separate tables, you recognize both the all-female Daughters of the Desert and the Dog Soldiers. Sigrun Firehair, the tall fair skinned Ulfen, is drinking heavily from a large tankard while scribbling notes in a bound leather journal and her companions all seem to be in high spirits.
At the halfling table, the mood is a bit more subdued and numerous empty cups reveal that they have already deposited a fair bit of gold at the bar. Their large fighting dogs lounge obediently under the table, although a few seem to be missing.
The other adventuring parties are easy to tell from the regular townsfolk.
At one table is a party contains no fewer than three rogues, along with a magus. Led by a black-haired woman, the group is quiet and sticks largely to themselves.
Near the center of the room, next to Toothy's well, a mixed group is drawing more attention to itself. The members seem to hail from all over the Inner Sea region, and include a Chelish Cavalier, a Nexian Summoner, a Qadiran cleric proudly wearing symbols of Serenrae, and their leader, a rogueish human male.
If Velriana Hypaxes and the rest of the Scorced Hand are attending, they have yet to make their entrance.
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Sobkehotep quietly gravitates towards the group of halflings.
"I can't help but notice that you seem... saddened, and that there are fewer of you, than when we started out on our respective investigations. I can't pretend to understand your particular brand of misery, but I understand the pain and power of loss.
Why don't you share what happened to you? As long as memory of an individual survives, their existence will not be forgotten."
The tall leader of the Daughters of the Desert catches Indus' attention and he approaches with a friendly smile.
"I trust you had a good first foray into the necropolis? You are from the far north, yes? May I join your celebration?" Indus doesn't wait for a reply but grabs a nearby chair and sits down, raising his glass and takes a sip of the spicy wine.
Lueck takes a table for the group, bounding up on his chair. As the others reach out to other groups, he stakes a presence for his group. He orders a generous amount of food and a some water for the table.
Refreshed and ready for food and drink, Diorio follows Lueck into the room and pauses to take in the ambience, and assess with his practiced eye the subtle movements and mannerisms that give away experts of the blade. He takes note of those individuals and then plops down next to Lueck, hoping to catch interesting snippets of conversation from the other groups.
At the halfling table, "Mad Dog" Marn turns sluggishly to look up at Sobekhotep. His scruffy beard is specked with beer foam and his eyes are tinted red as he struggles to focus.
”That's mighty kind of you, friend...those Pharasmins sent us to explore an abandoned tannery. Everything was just dandy until we went down into the basement and ran face first into the biggest gelatinous cube I've ever encountered...*hic*...That blubbery bastard swallowed up two of our best dogs before we managed to cut it to pieces. “ Marn says, while the surviving dogs under the table take a curious sniff at Neith.
”At least we managed to salvage a few trinkets from that thing’s last meals. Good thing too, cause it will cost a fortune to replace our lost dogs….provided we can even find a reputable breeder nearby. We don’t have time to go all the way to Katapesh… but take a look at this beauty…” the drunken halfling continues, pulling a exquisite slender blade from beneath a cloak. It’s a rapier of superior craftsmanship and appears completely unharmed by the living gelatin.
”Oi…fencing master…looking to upgrade that toothpick you’re hauling around? It’s too long for any of us short folk, but I know good steel and strong magic when I see it.” he calls across to the adjacent table at Diorio.
Meanwhile, Indus finds a warm welcome at the all-female table. The red-headed Ulfen smiles brightly at him while the veiled twins move aside to give him room.
”Good guess…I’m from the Land of the Linnorm Kings, but I do not miss the cold. My pa always told me that our family has genie blood to thank for our fiery hair and hot temperament. So I ventured south in search of sand and stories. Sigrun is my name, and these are the Daughters of the Desert. You are one of Farhaan’s resident heroes, I take it? Tell me your name and what great deeds your group performed in the Necropolis. I’m gathering tales for an epic manuscript.” Sigrun says, slapping the mostly blank pages of her book.
From their claimed table in the middle of the room, Lueck and Diorio watch their companions engage in conversation with the other adventuring groups. A few moments later, the dark-haired leader of the mixed group sitting next to the well stands and saunters over, helping himself to both a chair and one of the mugs on the table. He’s dressed in leather armor over a loose shirt, very similar to Diorio, and speaks with a clear Absalom accent as he presents himself.
”It’s a welcome sight to see another civilized person from the Jewel of the Inner Sea! You can take the knave out of Absalom, but we do carry ourselves with a certain style, do we not? Name’s Falto, elected leader of the Cryptfinders. What glory did you find in the Necropolis, friends?”
Feigning mild interest, Diorio leans towards the sauced halfling and takes a curious look at the proferred blade.
"Good sir, I must confess I am no fencing master, but I do appreciate fine blades that can help me drill my skills, as my tutors would say. You indeed have a keen eye for quality and no doubt drive hard bargains. Perhaps you can let my esteemed friend Sobekhotep examine its aura and maybe we could come to an agreement with my meager purse."
Addressing Falto with a polite smile. "Ahh, it is indeed wonderful to hear an Absalom accent. It has been many years since I've seen the fair city. I was but a young lad when my folks decided to hit the road, taking me along their journey throughout the Inner Sea region in a poor attempt to further my education of the world. Alas, I became enamored with the wonder of new places to pay too much attention to lessons, but I at least try to earn enough coin to keep my belly full and my feet shod. So, do you have news of Absalom? I would love to hear what has transpired in the last decade or so."
Seben hides up in her room, looking out the balcony at the gigantic desert moon—getting in that quality brooding. She is simultaneously both jealous and protective of the living below, all unaware of the fate that inevitably awaits them.
Finally, she steels herself, determined to do right by Farhaan. She exits the room to join the raucous party below.
As she heads down the stairs, her tattered cloak morphs away. Impossibly, it is replaced with attire more fit for a celebration. Her magic clothes, however, must be a tad over eager in their effort to impress their new master. They clearly overdo it: Seben is clothed in the highest of fashion from Sothis: sparkling jewels emulating the regal excess of Osiriani nobility; a linen gown as white as the snow of Irrisen; and a ceremonial collar with three layers made from the scales of a giant snapping turtle, all inlaid with a design of lapis lazuli. Her hair is imprisoned in a golden circlet with a single jewel of matching turquoise.
Although she is embarrassed to have made a faux-pas before she even makes it down the stairs, Seben realizes it’s too late to turn back now. She sucks in a deep breath and pushes forward into the smoke of the tavern.
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The Sacred Ibis however is not here to play, he’s all Beezness.
Once Seben makes her grand entrance, he attempts to silently soar through the smoke and hide in the rafters (Stealth +11).
He has reset his Animal Focus to “Falcon” which gives him a +6 to Perception for a total of +11.
He’s here to keep an eye on the rival adventuring parties, watching for monkey business or any other clues he might pick up.
Meanwhile, Indus finds a warm welcome at the all-female table. The red-headed Ulfen smiles brightly at him while the veiled twins move aside to give him room.
”Good guess…I’m from the Land of the Linnorm Kings, but I do not miss the cold. My pa always told me that our family has genie blood to thank for our fiery hair and hot temperament. So I ventured south in search of sand and stories. Sigrun is my name, and these are the Daughters of the Desert. You are one of Farhaan’s resident heroes, I take it? Tell me your name and what great deeds your group performed in the Necropolis. I’m gathering tales for an epic manuscript.” Sigrun says, slapping the mostly blank pages of her book.
Indus' eyes widen. "Genie blood, you say? That sounds fantastic, but I've seen enough of these lands ... and of course would never call you a liar ... to believe it. The heat takes getting used to, but I've been here long enough to almost tolerate it. My father is a scholar from Taldor with a special interest in Osirion's reach history..." Indus pauses briefly, wondering about the fate of his father, before continuing. "Anyways, my name is Indus Ionaeus, and I'm indeed one of Farhaan's bunch of heroes. Our first delve into the necropolis was the tomb of an important person. It was replete with traps, vermin and mechanical guardians, but we braved the dangers and managed to retrieve some historical artifacts... It may not be heroic enough for a page in your book, but I hope we may attain legendary status at some point. How did you fare?"
As she heads down the stairs, her tattered cloak morphs away. Impossibly, it is replaced with attire more fit for a celebration. Her magic clothes, however, must be a tad over eager in their effort to impress their new master. They clearly overdo it: Seben is clothed in the highest of fashion from Sothis: sparkling jewels emulating the regal excess of Osiriani nobility; a linen gown as white as the snow of Irrisen; and a ceremonial collar with three layers made from the scales of a giant snapping turtle, all inlaid with a design of lapis lazuli. Her hair is imprisoned in a golden circlet with a single jewel of matching turquoise.
Although she is embarrassed to have made a faux-pas before she even makes it down the stairs, Seben realizes it’s too late to turn back now. She sucks in a deep breath and pushes forward into the smoke of the tavern.
When Indus spots Seben descend the stairs, he nearly drops his jaw, taking a moment to gather his senses and return to the conversation with Sigrun.
While Seben's entrance draws numerous admiring glances, the lively crowd features too great a variety in clothing styles and odd appearances for her to stand out too badly. She is certainly the most well-dressed person in the room, though.
Both Layla and Amina send her warm smiles and approving nods as they whisk by, too busy to chat at the moment. Farhaan issues a low whistle as he hands her a glass of her favorite wine.
When she asks for a snack to feed to Toothy, Farhaan shakes his head and smiles mysteriously. "I'm afraid feeding Toothy is not allowed right now. She's part of the entertainment tonight, and she does not perform well on a full stomach. Wait and see, you'll understand."
Marn gladly agrees to let Sobekhotep, and anyone else who wants to, examine the magic sword. A simple detect magic cantrip is easily confirms that it is magic, and closer inspection reveals its special abilities.
Rapier of the Agile Dance
Aura Moderate transmutation; CL 7th
Slot Weapon; Price 4,250 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
Description
This +1 rapier, with its slender and etched blade, is a testament to the art of combat as a dance. Once per day, when an opponent targets the wielder with a melee attack, the wielder may perform a graceful, dance-like 5-foot step as an immediate action, so long as they remain within that opponent’s threatened area. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity and provides the wielder with a +1 dodge bonus to AC vs that attack. Additionally, if the attack misses, the wielder gains a +2 circumstance bonus on their next attack against that opponent before the end of their turn. After taking this step, the wielder cannot take a 5-foot step during their next turn. If they take an action to move during their next turn, subtract 5 feet from the total movement.
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Cat's Grace; Cost 2,125 gp
"I already talked to that tall trinket merchant fellow with the bushy beard, and he's prepared to give me 2,000 gp for the blade. But I'd rather sell it to a fellow adventurer, so if you can match the price, it's yours." Marn says and takes a long swig of his tankard. Then he scratches one of his surviving dogs and adds: "And seeing as we're in a pinch to find replacements for our faithful hounds, I'll knock a cool 500 gold off the price if you can help me find a respectable breeder before our next trip into the Necropolis. I won't sell it to the merchant before then, but we'll need the money to buy new dogs."
Sigrun smiles cheerfully as she scribbles away in her book, apparently finding Indus' story plenty noteworthy. "Always a pleasure to meet a fellow collector of fantastic tales. Please, tell me more of your exploits. It sounds more interesting than the mansion of a pawnbroker that we were sent to explore. There were some interesting traps, to be sure, but no honest fights to get the blood boiling." she says, slapping Indus' thigh for emphasis.
Then she leans in and adds in a confident tone. "Of course, there's the kind of fights that will chill your blood instead. Like the Sand Scorpions over there. It appears they lost two of their members to ghouls while exploring an abandoned perfumery and incense shop. From what I overheard them arguing about, they walked right into some kind of turf war between rival gangs of those corpse-eaters. Their leader, the one that calls herself Black Kiss, wants them to continue to explore the Necropolis, but without a cleric to help them keep more undead at bay, the others are having none of it."
Sigrun gestures to a bronze-skinned member of her group, clad in a breastplate emblazoned with the sword and sunburst symbol of the Inheritor.
"Lucky for us that Rayka here found the faith of Iomedae, so she was persuaded by her fellow Rahadoumi natives to leave her homeland and take up a career as an adventurer. And is it true that the funny little frog-man in your group is really a warpriest for an ancient osiriani goddess of battle?"
Falto smiles broadly and leans back, propping one wide-rimmed boot up on the table.
"I don't have much to share in the way of news from Absalom. Our group formed in Sothis and we have spent the last couple of months working our way down here, exploring one ancient site after the other. Of course, nothing as exciting as the Necropolis. I mean, can you believe the plunder in this place? We got tasked with exploring the tomb of an important government official and nearly broke our backs hauling out all those coins and artifacts. The old fellow was none to keen on letting us have it, mind you. Rose out of his coffin, bandages and everything and tried to slay us. But no mummy's a match for the Cryptfinders!" he boasts, gesturing wildly with his goblet to illustrate how they defeated their undead opponent.
Falto tells a convincing tale, but some of the details don't quite match your own experiences in the Necropolis. You get the impression there's a fair deal of embellishment to his story.
Just then, the various conversations pause momentarily as the doors to the Tooth and Hookah swing open to admit another group of adventurers. Easily recognizable by her broad-brimmed hat and scornful expression, Velriana Hypaxes leads the Scorched Hand into the common room. Her three companions follow her silently as she marches up and claims the table between the Smokin' Bask Brigade and where Indus is talking to Sigrun.
"Ah, Ionaeus...you and your band of assorted misfits all managed to make it out it back alive, I see. How...fortunate." she purrs at Indus. Then she notices Sobekhotep and the symbol of Nethys among his many holy tokens and inclines her head in his direction. "I must admit, I'm surprised to find a fellow worshiper of the All-Seing Eye as a member of such a group as this. Please, feel free to join us for a drink. Surely, you must be in dire need of intelligent conversation."