Seeing that she was safe behind her companions, Aerith was able to properly focus on the task at hand. Her floating dagger rose to the ceiling and then was sent plummeting down at the insect. Finding a gap in the carapace, the dagger sunk in.
The dwarf produces his healing wand and attempts to use it.
A soothing blue glow emanates from the wand as the massive centipede slavers.
Mahmoud grunts as the centipede lashes through the open door and lands a hit on him.
Seeing the juggler stung by the creatures tail, Tribim frowns and begins to reach towards his chakram pouch with one paw and towards the door with the other. "So keep throwing or lock it out?"
Mahmoud frowns. He doesn't like to give orders, and he initially shrugs in response, but then feels compelled to add: "If we are going to fight it, we will probably have to get closer."
Drawing his chakram, Tribim shakes his head, "I've gotten as close to that thing as I'd like." leaning out the door he throws his chakram at the things tail.
”I’m headed out!” Epperson announces, pushing past his allies and around the flank of the massive creature after offering a rude gesture its way.
Mahmoud nods to Epperson as he charges outside, and steps back to take up a semi-protected position next to Aerith on the other side of the doors. From there he throws his dagger at the giant bug again.
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Unatti concentrates momentarily, and shimmering golden armor appears around Epperson.
”Gah! Curses!!” Epperson yells with anger as he begins to glow.
”Oh.” He turns to face Unatti.
”Thank you,” he says genuinely, as the centipede rears back to skewer him.
You continue to batter the centipede, which is now oozing ichor from several places. It angrily attempts to skewer the closest target: Epperson.
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Aerith winced when she saw the overgrown insect bite into Epperson. As the dwarf went down her eyes widened and a feeling of panic flooded her. Filled with a desire to save him, she commanded her dagger to fly out of the centipede, only for it to be rammed back into the same wound. Gritting her teeth she forced it further and further in, until with a yell she managed to break through the carapace, making the dagger vanish inside of it. Certainly, she thought, feeling lightheaded from the strain, that would be enough to kill it. Because if not, what would it take?
Frowning as he watches the brave dwarf move through the doors, Tribim reached towards his pouch as he tried to say something, "Epperson..." Realizing it was too late, he draws his chakram and throws it at the giant bug. Frowning as he bounces the weapon off of the wall.
Mahmoud frowns deeply as the centipede stabs Epperson, but tries to remain calm and focus on the job at hand, continuing his strikes at the foe. Considering everything he knows about the hardy dwarf, he is cautiously optimistic that despite Epperson's desire for oblivion, he will likely be fine when they get him back on his feet.
The centipede collapses, oozing ichor from numerous wounds. Its threat is ended.
Having witnessed Unatti trying to help the dwarf with the golden armor, Tribim hoped it meant she wasn't serious about not healing him. AS he steps over the threshold he asks her, "Unatti, would you look after Epperson please?" He was going to include that the dwarf may be dour but worth helping, but he didn't want to speak badly of the fellow since he'd put himself on the line for their sakes.
Collecting his chakrams and returning them to his pouch, he moved cautiously out into the yard, looking for anymore threats.
She breathed a sigh of relief as the monstrosity went down and as it seemed like the dwarf would lived. This turned to frustration, however, as she was left with the problem of retrieving her dagger. It was an exercise in finesse as she was forced to get it out from within the insect, and as it had to come out for one of the holes in its shell. It took a minute, but the experience was less than pleasant.
"I suppose I could heal the little b@st@rd. Though that would deny him that cherished oblivion he so desires." Unatti says, clearly a bit annoyed that the dwarf charged in so recklessly.
Relived to see Unatti was going to heal Epperson, Tribim begins to move towards the out-building, calling over his shoulder, "Thanks Unatti!"
Spinning his spear, he wonders if Epperson really does desire oblivion. Maybe the fellow just feels it's inevitable so why not embrace it. As he nears the building he makes a mental note to get the dwarf good and drunk and learn which is the truth.
Pausing at the doors of the small building, Tribim inspects them carefully for any locks or traps. Once he feels he knows how to proceed he will do so. If need be he will lean his spear against the wall and use his 'tools' to deal with whatever.
B4 - Mausoleum
A rectangular stone building sits in the northwest corner of the estate. At each corner stand columns carved to resemble men and women with their arms crossed over their chests. A set of stone doors stands in the southern face of the building, carved with bas-relief faces of two men. Hieroglyphs are carved into the doors just beneath the faces. Inside the doors, a staircase descends into the darkness underground.
Crypt of the House of Pentheru. May defilers be cursed by the gods until their day of judgement.
Mahmoud stays near Epperson and Unatti until the dwarf is back on his feet. He may desire oblivion, but he is certainly brave, he thinks. It was admirable how he drew the creature's attention away from those of us inside.
Once the party is restored, he follows closely behind Tribim.
After healing Epperson, Unatti makes her way over to where Tribim is, staying a respectable distance back. Upon spotting the hieroglyphs, she'll translate the warning to the rest of the group. "Well Epperson, it seems your time has come. There's possibly many curses within this tomb. Perhaps you should go first this time?"
Relieved to see Epperson standing again, Tribim waits at the stairs while Unatti reads the inscription. Not wanting to get between Unatti and Epperson, Tribim looks towards Mahmoud and rolls his eyes. Nodding towards the lanky man's dagger, he smiles. "Keep that thing handy."
Setting his ioun torch in place, Tribim begins to descend the stairs, Very slowly. Using the but of his spear to tap the steps and the walls as he goes, making sure he doesn't spring any traps.
Unatti grabs Tribim by his scruff and holds him fast. "Weren't you listening? This place might be riddled with curses. Maybe let the curse sensing dwarf go first this time? If I'm right, he's our best and only chance to possibly avoid them. Unless you wanna get turned into a newt?" The witch explains.
Mahmoud returns Tribim's look with a faint smile. He shrugs as if to say "Nothing we can do about that," and tosses his dagger lazily in the air to demonstrate he is ready. He moves to follow Tribim when the rogue begins making his way forward.
Aerith glanced over at the others. Quietly she said ”But our friend dwarf can walk into mundane traps and then he will be bleeding again. Surely, they should go together. Each can protect the other.”
Turning and looking at his friend, Tribim frowns. As he turns towards Epperson he hears Aerith speak up. Looking towards Unatti, he gestures towards the elf, as if to infer the dwarf verified he was in the right.
Mahmoud raises his eyebrows twice, once when Unatti physically restrains Tribim, and again when Aerith contributes to the conversation. He nods agreeably. "Makes sense," he rasps.
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The dwarf comes back to consciousness after an unfortunately-paired snore and loud fart.
”It’s defeated, that beastie, eh?” he mutters as he stands back up. ”Yes, it appears so. Excellent - we can proceed. My regards for the healing.” He looks around to see who yo direct the compliment.
”Yes, might I take a moment so that I might present myself better prepared for what might come next?” Epperson takes some time to heal his considerably-deep wound.
When the team gets to the mausoleum, Epperson indeed steps in (conversationally, not physically) as the rogue attempts to descend.
”I’m not the trap finder, so how about we go together? I’ll step directly behind you,” the dwarf offers.
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B26 - Undershrine
A stone altar sits upon a raised stone platform in the center of this square room. Caryatid columns carved in the likenesses of male and female figures with their arms crossed over their chests and khopeshes or ankhs in their hands stand at each corner of the platform. Empty torch holders are built in all four of the room's corners. Two stairways exit the room - one climbs to the south, while the other descends from this chamber to the north.
Of more pressing concern, however, is the mummy in the room!
This creature is an otherworldly being known as an Adherer. You don't remember anything about it, but you notice that its wrappings look very sticky.
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The mummy moves surprisingly quickly as it charges toward you. As the altar is in the way, it instead runs up the wall, seemingly unaffected by the pull of gravity.
”An Adherer! It…” Realizing that she didn’t actually know anything besides that, Aerith decided to stop talking before she embarrassed herself. Rather, she sent her dagger flying up towards the mummy.
”Is that a special kind of mummy?” Epperson says animatedly. ”I wonder what curses it holds! Oh this is a grand day! Fanny! Come see!”
A puff of black comes out of the dwarf’s armor and flutters about.
Epperson blows his tongue. ”Can’t let the bastard get too close.” he warns.
[ooc]DC 14 save vs malediction]
Realizing that taking a break was a good idea, Tribim sat down on the lip of the step. Realizing exploring made him hungry, he takes off his pack looking to see what grandma had wrapped up for lunch. Opening the dried banana leaf he took out the smoked fish. Smiling, he quickly began to eat the smoked perch.
Realizing the others were ready to go, Tribim quickly wrapped the remains of the fourth perch back in it's banana leaf, dropping it in his pack. Shouldering his pack he uses his ancient spear to stand up, ready to head down the stops with Epperson and Mahmoud nearby.
As they finish the steps his Ioun torch illuminates the undershrine. Admiring the columns for a brief second, Tribim see's the mummy moving towards them, yelling in almost a scream "It's a mummy!" He blinks, not sure if he should believe what he's seeing, "And it's climbing the wall!" Drawing a chakram as he moves, he hears Aerith call it an 'Adherent.' Turning he throws the chakram at the creature, asking "Adherent, what does it adhere to, maybe one of us share the same religion." Frowning as he bounces the circular weapon off of the wall.
"It's not a mummy," Mahmoud says flatly. "I don't know what it is, but I can tell it's not undead." He shakes himself into action as he sees it climb up the wall, and tosses his dagger at the creature.
Unatti chuckles softly at Tribim's remarks about sharing a religion with their foe. "No, no. It's called an 'Adherer' cuz it itself is adherent." Then remembering that her catfolk friend isn't too smart, she clarifies. "Err, it's super sticky. Probably how it climbs the wall."
She then blasts the thing.
Although Aerith's blade is able to nick it, the not-a-mummy effortlessly evades every other attack you throw at it. It scrambles around the corner and, once it's close enough, throws itself off the wall toward the closest target: Epperson.
... fortunately the dwarf turns out to be just barely out of reach.
Hearing Mahmoud announce the mummy wasn't 'undead' and Unatti explain that it didn't worship Bastet, Tribim responds as he watches it crawl down the wall towards his friends. "Well based on the room it's clearly a Pharasmin. Maybe Mahmoud should talk to it."
Relieved the thing didn't attack him, Trimbim felt a little bad that it attacked the dwarf. It seemed like everything attacked Epperson, maybe he really was cursed. With the creature still in view, Tribim drew another chakram and threw it at the thing. Watching his chakram sail past as he steps back away, at least this throw was closer.
With her dagger stuck to the mummy’s adhesive bandages, it took all of Aerith’s power just to free the weapon.
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The witch signs at Tribim's comment. "In my defense, I keep him around cuz he's cute, and a good dancer. Not because he's smart."
She once more places the golden armor around Epperson, since it did indeed seem like their foes were drawn to him.
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Mahmoud frowns, but gamely tries to follow Tribim's suggestion. "Hey, uh, adherer!" he growls in Osirian. "I serve Pharasmin, and in Her name I abjure you. Back off!" His intimidating demeanor is heightened by his stance and his build.
Epperson grunts as the adherer crawls towards him and lashes out.
"Not a mummy, eh? Yeah, it sure doesn't move like any mummy I've seen." The golden glow gives the dwarf a pause as he hefts his flail in place for a swing. "Let's end this thing quickly."
The dwarf then takes a strategic diagonal step away from the adherer's immediate reach.
The adherer seems shaken by Mahmoud's words, but you feel it's more due to the party's defiance rather than anything that was said. It's probably that the creature doesn't speak the Common tongue.
It continues to follow Epperson, attempting to ensnare the dwarf with its sticky hide.
With the dagger free, Aerith plunged it back in, aiming for the same spot she had stabbed earlier. While it wasn’t much, the repeated stabbing of the same wound was slowly but surely making a mark.
Mahmoud maintains his intimidating pose for a moment and then quickly tosses his ready dagger twice at the foe, adding a bit of extra strength so that the blade does not stick to it as it slices its exterior.
"I must smell good," Epperson reasons. "There's a first time for everything."
The dwarf swings and then steps back again, luring the nasty thing into a corner.
Smiling when he heard Unatti thought he was cute, Tribim made a note to ask Epperson how many different ways he's seen a mummy move; maybe they had a dance he could learn. Disappointed the not-a-mummy didn't listen to its fellow Pharasmin and continued attacking, he was glad Mahmoud tried. He would much rather live and let live, well, as long as the not-a-mummy didn't mind them taking all the treasure. As he fight continues, Tribim draws another chakram. Watching and waiting, as soon as Epperson moves, he throws the chakram at the sticky thing.
You continue to chip away at the adherer as it turns its attention to Mahmoud.