The woman sighs in frustration. "You're right, of course. I'm just angry. The Erudite Eye is an ancient temple of Nethys, so you can understand why we want to explore it. I don't even know if it's been assigned yet, to be honest."
Mahmoud bows his head to the woman, acknowledging her gracious effort to keep the peace between faiths. "May Pharasma smile on your wishes tomorrow. Our group is the Five of Shadows, and one of our number is a follower of Nethys as well. They may be interested to learn that the necropolis contains such an interesting artifact of history relevant to your god. Am I correct in guessing that you aren't from Osirion originally? What is your name?"
Unatti states in abject horror as Epperson apparently curses on one of their fellow adventurers. She attempts to apologize to the man, but to no avail. He and the rest of his group hastily leaves the tavern.
She rounds on the dwarf. "You uncouth, uncivilized, uncultured, sad, pathetic little man! You can not just go around laying one of your weird curses on unsuspecting people whenever you feel like it. What is wrong with you?!? I have had enough of your awful attitude, and your terrible view that life isn't worth living. Well, if I have ever have the misfortune of being stuck with you on another delve, I'll be sure not to waste any of my healing on you. Perhaps then you can ask your god in person why he doesn't answer your prayers, though I think it's because he even he can't stand you!" She then storms outside, and comes across their elven companion.
She takes a few deep breathes to calm herself. "Hello Aeirth, how come you're standing out here?"
Standing by the door, Aerith had been more or less listening in as best she could. She tensed as Unatti rounded on their dwarven comrade, and positively jumped when her name was called out. "Oh!" She said, doing her best to play it off as she turned to enter. Then, thinking better of it, said "One moment." Given the heat, there was more than enough sweat to be considered improper, and she would be dead before she made such an entrance. Turning, she called upon her magic to prestidigitate the worst of it, and then with a command to her sleeves, had her clothing be replaced with an identical suit, except now it was clean. Only then did she come in.
"Unatti." She said, trying and failing to act casual. "I was just enjoying the weather. It is good to see you all." She added, ignoring the tirade that had just been unleashed on Epperson, as well as the fact that she had been forced to step out of the way as their fellow adventurers made a hasty exit.
Relieved that Mahmoud's had been able to calm the leader of the Scorched Hand.' Tribim smiles when he hears Mahmoud as her name, wondering if they will see the juggler for the rest of the evening.
Surprised when Unatti 'lights into' the dwarf, Tribim realizes he must have missed something when he was over speaking with 'Black Kiss.' He looks from Unatti towards Epperson. Stepping one way to make sure he didn't get in between them, then stepping the other to make sure he wasn't behind Epperson. As his friend storms off, he looks to Epperson, asking, "What did you do?" Realizing Unatti was leaving, he shakes his head, "Tell me later, I'll keep an eye on her."
Grabbing his gear from against the wall, he begins walking towards the door. Tossing his rucksack over his shoulder he nearly stumbles, over, apparently the alcohol had affected him more than he realized. Righting himself, he uses the ancient spear to brace himself and walks intentionally towards the door. Finding himself outside with the two women, just catching the end of the conversation he chimes in, "Yes, it is a beautiful evening, isn't it?" Smiling he turns from one woman to the other, "So now where to?"
"You're quite perceptive. You have the pleasure of conversing with Viscountess Velriana Hypaxes of Taldor."
"I don't care where we go, as long as it's far away from that horrid little man." Unatti says in reply to Tribim's question.
Mahmoud nods politely to the viscountess and notices the altercation between Unatti and Epperson. He gives Velriana a little bow as he leaves her presence and slides back next to the dwarf. "What happened?" he asks. "Do we need to leave?"
”I think it may be that Unatti did not think my attempt to educate the Cryptfinders’ spokesperson on the true nature of curses was appropriate. It doesn’t matter - none of it does, really - though her repeated threats to withhold healing and toast my demise have been noted.”
Epperson stands up. ”I’ll retire for the night. That should clear the air so that you all may relax. ‘Til tomorrow, should it come.”
The dwarf heads to the bar to enquire about a room.
As Epperson on left, Aerith leaned in towards Tribm, as he was closest to her at the door. ”Do those two…you know…like each other?” She whispered. ”I read a book on human mating rituals, and it said human women will often act like they don’t like males. I believe the scientific term is playing hard to get.” After a moment she whispered ”But Epperson is a dwarf, so I fear that he won’t understand. What should we do?”
Events spinning about him, the slightly inebriated Tribim considers Aerith's question quickly. Wanting to share the different things he'd seen and heard at the temple of Bastet, he realizes that right this moment may not be the best time. Instead, he quickly shakes his head 'no' and answers softly. "Um no, I truly do not think she is playing 'hard to get.' As for what to do concerning them? Don't get between 'em." He smiles and winks at the overly intellectual elf.
Turning his smile towards Unatti, speaking much louder than he intended, "But what we should do is go dancing!" Nodding to each lady he extends an arm in invitation, "I know the perfect place!"
Leaving some gear at his parents fishing boat and taking other, Tribim eats a quick bite while he tells his family about the previous days adventure. His grandparents (pleased he's doing something other than dancing with his life) encourages him to work hard and have a good day.
Arriving at the temple of Pharasma last, Tribim catches the tail end of the report. His head down, he apologizes. "Sorry about being late." He looks up and smiles a boyish grin, "I got caught up in the celebration."
As the turn to go, he extends a paw so as to read at the assignment, he shrugs, "A nobleman's mansion, probably no undead mummies there."
Mahmoud seeks out Aerith when Epperson leaves, wishing to bring to the mage's attention the Taldane woman's comments about a temple to Nethys. "I don't suppose you've heard of her?" he asks quietly. He shrugs when she answers, and bows. "I will see you in the morning," he says to the rest of the party in farewell, and departs.
The next day he arrives bright and early to receive their next assignment. He waits patiently for the others, scanning the crowd to see who else from the previous evening is present. When the lots are drawn, he frowns. "Yeah," he replies to Tribim. "Might be some treasure, but not as much as would be in a tomb. Probably fewer traps, though." He smiles sideways at the catfolk. "Anyone want to do anything before we go?"
Sandstone walls ten feet high enclose this estate, affording those who once lived inside some privacy. A two-story stone house is visible beyond the walls, adjoining the rear wall of the property. In the center of the estate's southern wall stands a pair of tarnished bronze gates hanging partially open. A pair of statues flanks the gate. Dusty hieroglyphs are carved into the wall at eye level to the left of the gate.
The hieroglyphs read "House of Pentheru"
Mahmoud sniffs the air, suddenly nervous. He scratches his neck and clears his throat. "Is it just me, or does this have a 'haunted house' feel to it?" He gives the gates a look of suspicion and then proceeds to carefully make his way past the statues.
Epperson arrives in the morning, greeting each of the group with a grunt. Thrust through a makeshift band around his right forearm rests a new-looking wand.
”Healing stick,” he explains. ”I thought it might be sound to have workarounds.”
Upon the arrival at the House of Pentheru (and the discovery of the family name), Epperson thinks about any curses he may have heard of associated with that House.
"Pentheru?" Aerith mused. "Have I heard that name before...?" She muttered to herself.
Smiling at Mahoud's first comment, Tribim agrees, "Less traps is fine with me." As Epperson shows them the wand, he nods, remembering the 'conversation' from the previous evening, "Nothing wrong with 'workarounds' my friend."
As they approach the sandstone walls he pauses as Mahmoud says it looks haunted. Not really sensing anything, he answers, "I don't feel anything, But several aquaintances have asked if I have them." Shrugging he begins to move towards the gates. "At least the gates are open."
Hearing Aerith muttering, he pauses at gate twirling his ancient spear like a baton, turning towards the group, "Should I wait?"
Mahmoud appears ready to follow Tribim as soon as he heads in. "I'll be right behind you," he says with a nod.
You're unfamiliar with the name 'Pentheru,' but based on the size of his property, he was likely a minor noble of some sort. Regardless, the fact that you haven't heard of him before means he probably wasn't a historically-significant individual.
B2 - Outer Courtyard
Dust and sand cover the ground of this small courtyard. To the east and west stand pairs of columns, once brightly painted and now bleached from the sun, which support stone archways leading to other section of the property. Tarnished bronze gates hang open under both arches. To the north, a small flight of steps leads up to a pair of ornate doors in the south wall of the house between another set of columns.
As Tribim and Mahmoud enter, the sound of an angry mob can be heard from outside the walls. A woman's voice cries out "Hold the gates! Don't let them inside the compound!" as powerful blows shake and rattle the gates.
Mahmoud stops, suddenly even more alert, as he hears what he is sure must be illusory sounds of a mob approaching. He looks toward Tribim with wide eyes as he tries to steel himself against the magic.
Unatti grins at her fellow Bastean, "You read my mind Tribim, I was going to suggest exactly that! Let's be away from this place."
"Don't let who inside the compound?" The witch calls back in the same ancient language.
Hearing the large crowd just as he passes through the gates, Tribim looks towards, Mahmoud, "Did you hear that? Are they talking to us?" Shaken for a moment, he hears Unatti yell back. He's not surprised Unatti understood the language, but he still wanted to know what the woman wanted.
”So it is haunted!” Aerith exclaimed. ”I do so hope we can meet a ghost that retains its mind. Imagine how much we could learn from it. Let’s go inside.” The elf said, eager to have someone else take the lead so that they could explore in earnest.
as powerful blows shake and rattle the gates.
Visibly shaken Tribim looks from the gates to Aerith, "I'd just as soon not meet any ghosts, thank you very much."
Taking a deep breath, he moves towards the main doors up the stairs, twirling his ancient spear nonchalantly. Pausing at the steps he quickly inspects them, then moving to the double doors. He spends a little extra time looking for traps and eventually attempts to open the doors, using his new lock picks if needed.
B11 - Foyer
Brightly colored columns stand in the four corners of this foyer. Hieroglyphs cover the walls and tiled floors, obscured in places by piles of dust and sand. Open archways lead to the north, east, and west, while a set of stone double doors exit to the south.
Three skeletons stand at attention in the foyer, one guarding each of the archways. As Tribim opens the doors, they draw khopeshes and prepare to attack!
The skeletons assume readied stances, in clear warning for you to not enter.
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The hieroglyphs proclaim this estate to be the House of Pentheru and convey a variety of different messages, such as "Welcome to all guests," invocations to the gods to bless all who enter here, and the like.
Epperson’s sixth sense tingles at the hint of a haunting.
”It’s not technically a curse, but…”
Epperson draws his masterwork flail and shield.
”Allow me the pleasure,” he offers, targeting the left-most skeletal guard without moving forward.
Frowning when he sees the skeletons shift their positions and ready their weapons, Tribim asks, "Are these mechanical toys too?" As he reaches back and draws one of his chakrams. Throwing it at the left skeleton, it bounces off the wall as he steps back around the corner beside the pillar.
After wrestling with a brief bout of terror, Mahmoud regains his composure and follows the others into the foyer. He throws his dagger at the skeleton on the right, catching it as it ricochets off the skull and tosses it again.
Joining with Mahmoud‘s assault, Aerith sent her own dagger out into the fray. Where his ricocheted off in an impressive display of skill, her’s hit and then floated in place, so that it could attack or defend as needed.
As soon as Tribim throws his chakram, the skeletons charge forward.
Mahmoud and Aerith quickly dispatch the two closest, while Epperson curses the other.
New Round
Frowning, knowing his chakram missed, Tribim's eyes widen as the three skeletons rush forwards, fortunately missing their targets. Watching as Mahmoud's dagger pierces the skull of one skeleton returning to him and Aerith's dagger pierces the skull of the second and then just floats there. Looking to where his chakram lay against the far wall, he wonders if he'd selected the wrong projectile. Taking a deep breath, he's determined to make up for it with his spear. Shifting the spear into a one handed grip he dances forwards and thrusts his ancient spear at the remaining skeleton.
"This isn't so bad, is it?" Aerith said, as she watched Tribim expertly impale the last skeleton.
Tribim stabs the skeleton, cracking the bones enough for Aerith's sword to finish it off.
Potential Loot
Broken Khopesh x3
"We were fortunate to take them by surprise," he answers Aerith. "Should we continue into the house, or maybe step back and search the grounds first?" He shrugs. "Seems like we may already be committed to the inside. I wonder if these creatures can raise an alarm amongst their kind."
Epperson frowns at the ease with which the skeletal warriors crumbled.
”It would seem that these ancient guardians have not weathered time well. All the better for us.”
He moves into the room and looks over the remains of the bones.
Impaling the skeleton, Tribim smiles as Aerith says 'This isn't so bad.' Turning toward the elf, he answers, No not bad at all!"
As he moves up the step, He turns towards Mahmoud, furrowing his brow, "Surprised them? They were standing their waiting for us."
Seeing Epperson move to inspect he bones, Tribim gestures towards the insides, "May as well keep going this way."
Setting his ioun torch rotating around his head, Tribim, almost skipping, moves into the entry spinning his ancient spear. Pausing in the middle in the middle of the foyer he looks first to the north, then the east and the west.
As Epperson and Tribim enter the house, the doors begin to slam closed!
Tribim leaps back outside, but the dwarf isn't so lucky. Screams and the clash of arms fill the air, muffled by the door.
Mahmoud shrugs. "They weren't quick enough to charge us before we threw weapons at them." He almost smirks as he says this, and begins to move forward to join Tribim and Epperson in looking over the bonepiles. When Tribim suddenly leaps back to join them, he blinks. "What was that?" he asks, his hand immediately poised to toss another one of his daggers at the next threat.
Epperson doesn't notice as the doors slam shut.
"Eh?" he exclaims, straightening up from his crouching position at a pile of recently-moving bones.
"Hunh?" Epperson manages, turning around in a circle, trying to remember what he was doing and with whom he was doing it.
Smiling at Mahmoud's retort, Tribim add as he walks up the steps, "True, thought the daggers worked better than the disks."
Sensing something rather than seeing it, Tribim, his cat like skills on full display, jumps back just as the doors starts to slam shut. His eyes wide, the hair on his neck standing straight, Tribim answers Mahmoud, "I've no idea!"
Realizing their dwarven companion was potentially at the mercy of whatever ghostly thing was inside, Tribim reaches for the door as he tries to calm down, jesting, "We need not worry, Epperson's flatulence will dissuade any creature, alive or dead."
Unatti was a bit too slow in reacting to their skeletal foes, but thankfully her companions finished them off without difficulty.
She waits outside with Mahmoud as Tribim and Epperson scout the entrance of the manor, when suddenly the doors start to close. "Tribim! The doors! Quick!" She shouts to her friend, who manages to leap back out in time.
"Well, I guess Epperson is going to finally meet that inevitable end he keeps wishing for." She says, turning to leave.
”That…that’s not funny.” Aerith said, quietly. ”We can’t leave anyone behind. We have to help him.” She looked at the others, hoping that they weren’t going to actually walk away.
Something is holding the doors closed, although nothing appears to be there. Somehow, the ancient doors have become as hard as solid stone.
The doors abruptly fly open to reveal Epperson. The dwarf has been severely beaten but is still very much alive.
Hearing Aerith say 'that's not funny' Tribim bites his tongue, resisting the urge to say anything. As he pulls on the door handle, he again resists the urge to comment that they wouldn't actually be leaving Epperson 'behind' since he was 'ahead' of them. The question would be if they were leaving him 'ahead.'
Unable to pull the door open he sets aside the desire to jest, turning towards the others, "Does anyone have a crowbar? Or maybe some kind of magic."
As seconds turn to minutes and no good ideas come forth, Tribim jumps back and hisses when the doors spring open. Not sure if he should move back up the steps and into the room, he calls to the beaten dwarf, "Epperson you ok?" He looks to the others, "Can anyone tell what's going on?"
The door opens to reveal the dwarf attempting to staunch blood streaming from his nose with a rag, his face red and scuffed, a few gnarly-looking welts beginning to swell on his face. Epperson's flail and shield have been flung to the floor near the door. A dark fluttery thing peeps and circles his head.
"Well that was awful," Epperson flatly manages around the blood-soaked rag spouting from his nose. "Hang on," he holds up his hand as he attempts to activate the wand clasped in his bleeding fist. The piwakawaka circles his wrist, chirping insistently.
"Yeah, I'm going to need a moment to get this to work," he says, shaking the wand with a touch of irritation. "Fanny! IN." The bird disappears down the front of Epperson's breastplate.
"It was a haunting effect," Epperson breathes between attempts to heal himself. "Coupled with those skeletal warriors, it could've been highly effective. There should be some way of deactivating it."
Mahmoud springs forward when the doors slam, too slowly to stop them. He examines the edges, looking for a place to apply leverage, and when Tribim suggests he use his crowbar he pulls it from his pack and does so. After several attempts he looks defeated. "There seems to be some force holding the doors closed. I cannot open them." He looks around. "We cannot abandon one of the shadows. What if it were one of us trapped in there alone?"
He continues to listen at the doors, imagining he hears scraping or knocking from the other side, but stands helplessly. When the portal finally opens and disgorges Epperson, he rushes to the dwarf's side. "Take a moment," he suggests. "I think none of us are anxious to rush back into this place until we understand what happened. A haunt, you say? I wonder if perhaps now that you have born the brunt of its wrath, the phenomenon has become dormant." He peers into the gloom of the building, looking for signs that this theory is correct.