Merida murders the mound of meat.
BEHOLD! THE SAGE OF PLAGUES! - Round One of Combat Cont'd!/Round Two Cont'd!
Ashtoret
Undead sage (sickly green) +5 THP
Corey
Undead Sage (sickly green) +5 THP
Seebonickk
Mass of Corpses (black) -48 HP
Nightkit
Merida
Theron
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Ashtoret smiles contentedly. This new friend will finally be an interesting conversationalist!. And we can all learn so much from him about the past of this place! She holds out her hand to him almost tenderly. Please calm down and don't attack my comrades. We are not enemies!
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"Woah! Noice shooting, kid!" Corey calls out to Merida after the shambling pile of zombies crumbles to bits of bone and dried flesh.
He then turns his attention to Ashtoret, wondering what's going to happen with the undead Sage now under her control.
"This is going to be quite interesting." he murmers softly as he puts a finger to his lip, ready to watch what's about to unfold. With a loud clatter of ancient bones, he knocks the skeleton out of the chair next to him and takes a seat.
"Ask away, Ashtoret. I'm interested to see what your new friend has to say! Haha!"
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The main thing is not to attack this ghostly sage, Nightkit. Everything is under control. Although in fact, Ashtoret is not completely sure about this. Something is bothering her, but she can't figure it out yet. Perhaps it's the feeling of six seconds ticking away that comes over her every time she's in real mortal danger?
Ashtoret smiles contentedly. This new friend will finally be an interesting conversationalist!. And we can all learn so much from him about the past of this place! She holds out her hand to him almost tenderly. Please calm down and don't attack my comrades. We are not enemies!
Alas, the "new friend" may be "interesting", but is far from a "conversationalist". Instead, it merely babbles incoherently.
Familiar, through her training, with religious texts regarding undead, Ashtoret recalls that those who fall prey to madness and take their own lives sometimes find themselves lost on the path to the afterlife, trapped in a state between life and death. These unfortunates suffer from the violent and incurable insanity they faced in life and take out their terror, confusion, and rage upon the living. They reach out to those they encounter—possibly in wrath, but also perhaps oblivious to their own insane nature—spreading the psychoses that led to their own untimely deaths.
Beyond the party's babbling "friend", there is little else of interest other than the broken ruby fragments on the table that are surrounded by the three robed corpses sitting there.
Nightkit picks up the fragments and begins to examine the bodies, which could very well have belonged to three of the Jeweled Sages.
As she clutches the fragments, considering their identities, the babbling undead turns to look toward her. The Pathfinders the fragments begin to feel heavier or as if something were pushing on them. Her whole body experiences a tense feeling, as if she were held within some mystical grip, some desperate bid not to lose the gem!
Nightkit senses that that the shards, and anyone holding them, cannot exit the ruins until the undead sage has been destroyed.
Well .... I'm guessing but .... could these be the remains of the Ruby Sage's crystal?
As if in response, the shards discharge a bolt of red lightning in a line toward the remaining undead.
The undead sage cries out as if the Ruby Sage’s spirit were fighting against it's influence.
The tense feeling somewhat subsides in Nightkit.
The Sage of Plagues eyes Nightkit, having been attacked. The necromancer's spell no longer placates it!
BEHOLD! THE SAGE OF PLAGUES! - Round Three Begins!
Corey
Undead Sage (sickly green) -10 HP
Seebonickk
Nightkit
Merida
Theron
Ashtore
Undead sage (sickly green) -10 HP
Crystal Fragments of the Ruby Sage
As Corey sings, the Sage of Plagues flies toward the holder of the fragments and attempts to bring her down!
BEHOLD! THE SAGE OF PLAGUES! - Round Three Cont'd!
Corey
Undead Sage (sickly green) -10 HP
Seebonickk
Nightkit
Merida
Theron
Ashtoret
Undead sage (sickly green) -10 HP
Crystal Fragments of the Ruby Sage
Nightkit, struggling with the touch of insanity, misses her shot.
Merida succeeds twice with her shots though her solid projectiles, while imbued with magic, are not as effective against the incorporeal target.
BEHOLD! THE SAGE OF PLAGUES! - Round Three Cont'd!
Corey
Undead Sage (sickly green) -30 HP
Seebonickk
Nightkit -2 Wis
Merida
Theron
Ashtoret
Undead sage (sickly green) -30 HP
Crystal Fragments of the Ruby Sage
The combined assault by the Pathfinders is more than the Sage of Plagues can deal with. The abominable spirit is destroyed. The Sage of Plagues fades away, and its maddening babble is finally silenced.
The chamber once again is dark and quiet.
Attempt to solve the riddle in the fountain room?
Wait for Amenopheus to arrive?
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A sea shanty for sand-weary souls in ancient Osirion halls...
"Oh the waves did roar and the sky did crack,
With a flash of white and the stars turned black,
Far from this dust and deathly gloom,
We sang through storms, not ancient tombs!
Heave ho, friends, let the desert fry,
We’ve braved worse under a wilder sky!
Raise your steel and raise your song,
We brave the storm and right the wrong!
With wind-split sails and spirits high,
We stared down gods and did not die,
Now stone walls echo phantom wails,
But we’ve seen worse—just different tales
Heave ho, friends, let the curses fly,
Let the jeweled dead give us their try!
Raise your steel and raise your song,
We brave the storm and march along!
So dream of sea spray, cold and free,
Not the sweat and ash of Osir'i,
Let the rhythm roll like breakers’ beat,
And feel that chill beneath your feet.
Heave ho, friends, to the fight we go,
Through wind or sand or deathly woe!
Sing it loud and sing it long,
We brave the storm and stand strong!
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"Good work, mages! I was worried that we would have no way to defeat an undead phantom."
"we should go check on Sellana, the elemental. I'm worried those Ulfens may have harmed her. I also suggest we figure out that puzzle. There might be some good riches for the taking in there."
When the party returns to the fountain room, the tiled room remains as the party left it. The large carving of Nethys stands on the east wall. The withered corpse of Kiras lies in the northwest corner.
The statue of a warrior-maiden serves, which serves as a centerpiece, continues to pour water from an ornate jar into the pool that occupies much of the chamber. Within it, the elemental splashes about excitedly.
"I saw some others--adventures, I think, like you--running past the room. But, alas, I have been unable to leave this chamber and I could not learn more about them."
"Have you found a way to release me? If not, please tell me that you are staying here with me. You are staying, right?"
Maybe she needs proof. Like these crystals
Nightkit holds out the ruby pieces to the elemental.
The water elemental inquires of Nightkit.
It is clear that the water elemental remains bound. It would seem that this room may present more than one puzzle.
As promised,
Amenopheus arrives 1 hour after he was contacted finding the party within the fountain room.
"Greetings, Pathfinders," he says. "Tell me, what all has transpired?" He glances over at the remains of Kiras and sighs. Then, he turns his glance toward the statuary in the middle of the fountain and the elemental formed beneath it.
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Corey asks the elemental to repeat herself...
"She said she saw the Ulfens run past and, apparently, she has not been able to leave the room. Since she still cannot leave, she wants us to stay to keep her company..." Corey points to the corpse of the elf in the corner,
"Like he did. Poor bugger."
"Huh. The ruby shards did nothing to free her as well."
Corey asks the elemental if the group can fiddle around with the puzzle. He tells her it could hold a clue about releasing her from servitude.
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"Greetings, Amenopheus." Corey says with a respectful bow.
"We're trying to figure out what to do about Sellana the elemental here. With the destruction of the final sage —who was undead by the way— we thought she could be released from servitude. It appears she is stuck here. We also want to figure out the puzzle here against the wall."
"We're trying to figure out what to do about Sellana the elemental here. With the destruction of the final sage —who was undead by the way— we thought she could be released from servitude. It appears she is stuck here. We also want to figure out the puzzle here against the wall."
"An undead sage?" Amenopheus replies. "I trust you were able to put the soul to rest."
"As for releasing the elemental--and one with an identified gender and a proper name? How intriguing.--," he continues. "I suppose this 'final sage' would have been the one to ask. Whatever binding magic was used must have been powerful indeed."
The Sapphire Sage ponders for a moment, then notes, "If the need for water came from the Jeweled Sages themselves, then the terms of binding upon the elemental would almost certainly be tied to that need--or?" He ponders a bit longer, before concluding, "Or, perhaps, it would have been simpler to bind the elemental's presence to their own."
"The elemental's continued presence poses an interesting puzzle to be sure." He declares. "One that may require more to solve than simply switching two of the cartouches." He gestures at the wall and shakes his head. "Nethys is a god of magic, divided between destroying the world with one hand and saving it with the other. This dual-edged nature of magic is epitomized in his apotheosis. Such knowledge is readily known to those who devote themselves to the study of magic."
"The matter of the elemental, however, would appear to rest upon a much larger number of variables and, therefore, require a more indepth analysis," Amenopheus declares. He rubs his beard in thought.
As his mind begins to flood with possibilities, he turns to the party."Tell me, are you sure that this undead that you confronted was indeed 'destroyed'? And, if so, are you certain that it was the 'final sage' to be present here? After all, my contact had led me to believe that this place likely held more than one of the lost jewels."
Amenopheus eyes the party curiously, "Have you found no evidence of other sages having occupied this fortress?"
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Aw crud. I knew I forgot something. There were three finely dressed corpses sitting around a table who might have been sages. I was about to search them when I got rudely interrupted. Sitting on the table was this pile of broken ruby crystals. Think it might have been the remains of the Ruby Sage gem?
She hands the crystals over to Amenopheus.
As for Selliana. She seeks company ... and I'd like to be her friend.
She heads off back over the chasm to finish off the search she had started.
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Merida provides Corey with her wand of Comp. Languages.
"Wait a minute. Sellana said she 'was instructed to deal with any intruders that (besides doing damage to the chamber and stealing items) open the secret door by disabling it or forcing it open.' Does that mean if we just solve the riddle to open the door, we are ok? Corey, can you ask her if that counts as disabling?"
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"Wait a minute. Sellana said she 'was instructed to deal with any intruders that (besides doing damage to the chamber and stealing items) open the secret door by disabling it or forcing it open.' Does that mean if we just solve the riddle to open the door, we are ok? Corey, can you ask her if that counts as disabling?"
"Good question!"
Corey asks Sellana if we can just solve the riddle to open the door."After we're done solving the puzzle, we should definitely take another look around for more evidence of other sages. There could be something behind that door, like another Sage Jewel."
"Good question!"
Corey asks Sellana if we can just solve the riddle to open the door."After we're done solving the puzzle, we should definitely take another look around for more evidence of other sages. There could be something behind that door, like another Sage Jewel."
"I am not obliged to attack those who open the door by solving the riddle." Sellana concedes.
Aw crud. I knew I forgot something. There were three finely dressed corpses sitting around a table who might have been sages. I was about to search them when I got rudely interrupted. Sitting on the table was this pile of broken ruby crystals. Think it might have been the remains of the Ruby Sage gem?
She hands the crystals over to Amenopheus.
"Remains?!" Amenopheus responds with lament. Accepting the crystal fragments into his hand, the Ruby Sage bemoans the loss of the jewel. "The sage jewel was destroyed. I had hoped such a thing would not come to pass."
She heads off back over the chasm to finish off the search she had started.
As Nightkit begins to exit the room, Amenopheus' eyes light up, as the Ruby Sage is overcome by a quick realization.
"Wait!" he calls out to Nightkit. "Let me come with you."
He clutches the ruby fragments in his hand."These shards hold a glimmer of magic! Thus, they may still contain several of the Ruby Sage’s memories. Quickly, to the corpses!"
Amenopheus pushes his way past Nightkit and heads into the chamber beyond chasm to wear the remains were sitting. "The Ruby Sage! She may yet still be here!"
Using his magic, Amenopheus makes contact with the spirit of the Ruby Sage, who briefly animates her nearby corpse and restores it to
how she must have appeared in life.
"Thank you, Pathfinders." The spirit of the Ruby Sage speaks. "You have put the spirit of my colleague to rest."
"How did he turn undead?" Amenopheus inquires. "And how was the gem destroyed?"
"When Qadira began its purge of the Jeweled Sages, I, the Emerald Sage, and the Topaz Sage came here." The spirit of the Ruby Sage explains. "This fortress was built during Osirion’s Second Age—not to keep out invading creatures, but rather to protect travelers from the khamsin storms that wrack the desert. Over time, it had become abandoned due to changing trade routes and a lack of resources."
"We, the Jeweled Sages, decided that it made an ideal place for us to go to ground." She continues. "The three of us hid there, sustained indefinitely by our magic. Alas, the isolation,with no end in sight, began to gradually wear at their minds and drove us to internecine conflict." The spirit occupying the animated corpse releases a sigh.
"An outburst of violence left the Topaz Sage dead. I, too, was slain. My jewel was shattered. The Emerald Sage was left crippled." She explains. "It occurred in this chamber. This meeting chamber, which once provided sanctuary during the fiercest khamsin storms, became our tomb. The remainder of the fortress, where our personal belongings were, were sealed off during the battle. The Emerald Sage placed our bodies here, seated us around this table. His last act before death."
"For, as despair and madness set in, the surviving sage—the Sage of Plagues— elected to take his own life before his thoughts could corrupt the gem’s memories. Despite his selfless intentions in that moment of lucidity, his spirit lingered afterward as an allip that tapped the emerald’s power to sow the ruins with curses that changed over time and at the spirit’s whims."
"So, he remained. Until you set his spirit free, Pathfinders," declares the Ruby Sage.
"If there were three sages here, what happened to other sage jewels?" Amenopheus asks.
"Through the gem, I have maintained a limited degree of awareness." The spirit of the Ruby Sage acknowledges. "The topaz and emerald jewels sat on this table alongside our bodies for ages. That, is, before they were taken."
"Taken?!" Amenopheus pauses for a moment, then cries out. "Grandmaster Torch! He, or his Pathfinder agents, must have been here. He must be the thief!"
"It is true that a group of Pathfinders reached this fortress, though barely. They had nearly died from thirst in the desert before they stumbled into the fortress and ran afoul of its curses." The Ruby Sage acknowledges. "All but one agent perished from a combination of the animated remains of those buried about the citadel, supernatural misfortune, and traps. The survivor sustained an injury that heavily scarred him from the emerald’s magic."
"But, he was not the one who took the jewels." The spirit notes. "Those Pathfinders were here some time ago. But, the jewels remained here, on the table. That is, until one day ago."
"The jewels were just recently taken?" Amenopheus asks. "By whom?"
"A man named Kafar." The Ruby Sage affirms. "When the thief handled one of my shards, I was able to read his thoughts before he discarded the fragment and fled. He intends to deliver the jewels to the Diamond Sage in a region known as the Pillars of the Sun. It is there that the Jeweled Sages’ built their sanctum. It strikes me as odd that the Diamond Sage would collect the gems there instead of finding new candidates to become sages elsewhere in Osirion."
"It strikes me as odd, as well." Amenopheus concedes. "Such actions by the Diamond Sage are not typical for the order. I am dismayed that the jewels may now be in the hands of known enemies of the Pathfinder Society."
But how does that help us free Sellana?
"Sellana? You are referring to the water elemental? The one who protects the portal? And the archive?" The spirit of the Ruby Sage inquires. "Yes, of course. She would still be here because my spirit is still present here."
"What is this archive?" Ameonpheous asks.
The spirit replies, "It is hidden away. Near a statue of Nethys. It contains a trove of history from the Age of Destiny that we, Jeweled Sages, managed to preserve through the decline of the pharaohs and the purges directed against us."
"But, it is the present--more so than the past--that concerns me now." The spirit of the Ruby Sage declares. She turns to the Pathfinders. "My ties to this world will soon unvravel fully. In this spirit form, there is little I can do even with the power that I still have."
"But, if you we are in alignment, then I am willing to offer my power to you. That is, if you are willing to chase down the thief Kafar, reclaim the stolen jewels, find the Diamond Stage, and learn what she intends?"
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"I am so sorry all that has happened to you." Corey says sincerely to the spirit of the Ruby Sage.
”All but one agent perished from a combination of the animated remains of those buried about the citadel, supernatural misfortune, and traps. The survivor sustained an injury that heavily scarred him from the emerald’s magic."
"Ah-ha! Was that Grandmaster Torch that got fried? The room where we found scorches from a fireball spell?"
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"I will definitely chase down the thief Kafar, reclaim the stolen jewels, find the Diamond Stage, and learn what she intends!" he proclaims enthusiastically.
"Anyway, I have a feeling there's another sage jewel behind that secret door in Sellana's chamber."
Puzzle Image with Translations.
The carved man is depicted with half his body burnt and ruined and the other half young and healthy.
You recognize that the man depicted on the large wall carving as the god of magic, Nethys. His split form shows the creative and destructive potential of magic.
In addition to the wall carving, you find that there is a series of cartouches on either side of the carved figure.
Each hand-sized cartouche can be removed from the wall, and the stone panels can be rearranged easily.
The hieroglyphics on the cartouches proclaim the magical powers of a god.
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"I will definitely chase down the thief Kafar, reclaim the stolen jewels, find the Diamond Stage, and learn what she intends!" he proclaims enthusiastically.
"Very well." The spirit of the Ruby Sage accedes. The fragmented ruby crystals begin to glow.
Determined to solve the riddle, Corey starts moving the cartouches and panels around.
He places the items in the following order...
Nethy's Whole side:
Prosperity, Protection, Destruction.Nethy's Burnt Side:
Knowledge, Preservation, Death.Cory turns to look at where the secret door is.
"Anything?
As Corey attempts to solve the puzzle, Sellana turns instantly in response.
"Now, you've done it. I tried to warn you."
Like an approaching wave ready to crash and batter a rocky shore, Sellana reels up in preparation to strike the Pathfinder.
Suddenly, the fragments of the shattered ruby begin to glow, then discharge bolts of red lightning. The collective charge from the fragments separately strikes each one of the Pathfinders, including Corey.
Sellana pauses. Her tide is turned. She is seemingly elated.
As the energy enters into the bodies of the Pathfinders, it does not provide a deadly shock. Instead, the effect could be described as invigorating...
...amazing...
...
The power of the shattered ruby gem i not lost entirely, and through the Ruby Sage’s blessing, it now lives on in you!
With the deed done, the corpse of the Ruby Sage slumps and returns to its desiccated form.
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"Woah. That felt weird. I thought we were done for from that shock." Corey says after the ruby fragments shock the heck out of him, his hair still standing on end from the static electricity.
What did she say? She sounded happy.
"She was about to pummel me since I messed with the puzzle. But that shock released her from servitude. She is finally free. We did it! Haha!"
"Well now. Back to the puzzle. I guess the arrangement I did of the cartouches and panels didn't do anything. Amenopheus, care to offer any advice?"
Corey rubs his chin in confusion as he stares at the puzzle.
After a few moments, he gives it another try...
Nethy's Whole side:
Knowledge, Protection, Destruction.
Nethy's Burnt Side:
Prosperity, Preservation, Death.