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Hey Fabian,
Understood - do what you have to do.
Azghaad looked around furiously, hand raised to strike. Though his knowledge of Haunts was limited, he remembered certain things.
Azghaad paused at Rubani's words "I take your point. 'The mind should rule the heart'." he quoted, then reached down and pulled his robe up to his knee. His right leg was a mass of long-healed burn scars. "But do not underestimate how dangerous they are. [i]'Fire is everyone's ally, and no-one's friend'[i]" he finishes, quoting once more.
Azghaad drew himself up momentarily, then sagged.
Azghaad smiled as they approached the new site. This lottery might bother his friends, but it suits me well. Each new site is a prize, to be explored for knowledge. In good spirits he luxuriated in the warm light of the sun on his face. All too soon it will be time to go into the dark. He frowned a little, as he placed the memory - one of the last words his Sarenraean companion had said. More soberly now, Azghaad pulled out a piece of chalk and a slate with etched lines. Carefully he started to pace out the exterior dimensions of the walls, and when Shalina started to call out additional information he hurried to mark them down as well. Skimp on study, fail the final he reminded himself as he fought his urge to push forward. "I don't suppose you have the gift of the third eye?" he called plaintively "I would be fascinated to know if you can detect any auras from up there." As soon as he noticed Rubani had slipped through the gate he followed. "Careful! Remember, better to investigate first than..." Azghaad trailed off. Rubani is just as keen as I am to go in, but he didn't blunder at "The mill." he added weakly, and to himself.
RE: Wound thresholds. Feel free to ignore this, but you probably want to put a penalty for spells in there as well. Arguably concentration does it. I'd suggest decreasing DC. Most spells either have a hit roll, a save, or are harmless. I'd prefer not to be in a situation where Rubani is unable to cast Cure Light Wounds when we're injured. RE: Scaling items. My understanding is that these are handed out by STs, and just 'use up' a percentage of WBL. As Azghaad has the feats to upgrade items anyway, might not be worth giving it to him... unless there's a scaling construct...
Azghaad forced a smile at the nameless stranger. Damn. Naturally Gifted, just given power and they don't even appreciate it. "Well, sir, as a priest of Nethys it matters a great deal to me. Your draconic forebear has granted you not just power, but the ability to manipulate the universe, and the opportunity to unlock its secrets."
Azghaad looked stricken, and his attitude changed immediately when he learned the dwarf was Gifted. "I am very sorry. I didn't see a component pouch, and the intrinsically gifted are so rare amongst dwarves I didn't even consider it as a possibility. Of course you should join us - Rubani can tell you our company's rules, if you're interested."
Azghaad took the proffered hand and rose to his feet. "Don't blame him for it being so one-sided. I intended this to be more of a sparring match than a... " he smiles weakly as he trails off "I used to be quite the brawler back in my pre-apprentice days. I had thought my wards might make up for any discrepancy, make it a fair fight. Apparently in my youth I was a big fish in a very small pond." He still leaned on the big man, as he continued "Amenon here saw me use a magical ward, and could see I was confident. He reasonably assumed I knew what I was doing, and that I had cast something sufficiently powerful to mean he'd need to use everything he had." He grimaces a little "I stand by the decision to test his combat skills before there were lives on the line. This was a non-lethal chance to do so in a place where there was immediate healing and no danger. I am now confident he'll be an asset to the group, and if we give him a big weapon there'll be someone else to smash the giant stone construct we seem fated to fight. I'm happy to take a smaller share of the treasure if there's a large chance of coming home with it." "He's obviously capable of working with delicate items given his work as a porter. I suspect he was merely working himself up for the fight, and bears me no ill-will" - he looked at Amenon "Yes?" "Rubani here has simplified our code somewhat. We respect the dead, help the living, kill the undead, preserve the past as best we can, and record what we can't. While we have all agreed to that, there are times we have argued over the exact priority of those principles."
Azghaad's spell flared - and failed - in the wake of Amenon's mighty blow. His feet left the ground from the force of the blow, and he moved a few feet through the air, landing awkwardly as he sunk to his knees and left hand. He dry retched a few times as his stomach - already sensitive from a night of hard drinking - desperately tried to empty itself, while already empty. He gasped for a air a few times, trying to talk through the pain, then held up a hand while he struggled to regain his breath, until he finally stumbled to his feet. "I am a Funereal thief... I steal from the dead... I am at peace with that... Not worried you would run... worried you wouldn't when you should." he coughed a few times through his speech and fumbled for his waterskin "So, you can fight. We need that. You'll have my vote." he took another sip, and slowly regained his composure, though still shaky and weak. "Last night we went back in to rescue another group. Perhaps you should see what remains of them - then you'll see why I asked."
Azghaad's spell flares - and fails - in the wake of Amenon's mighty blow. His feet leave the ground from the force of the blow, and he moves a few feet through the air, landing awkwardly and sinking to his knees and hand. He dry retches a few times as his stomach - already sensitive from a night of hard drinking - desperately tries to empty itself while already empty. He gasps for a air a few times, trying to talk through the pain. He holds up a hand while he tries to regain his breath, and finally stumbles to his feet. You think I am a funeral thief? Or worse, you think I am a coward who will run at the first sign of the restless undead?” "I am a Funereal thief... I steal from the dead... I am at peace with that... Not worried you would run... worried you wouldn't when you should." he coughs a few times few his speech and fumbles for his waterskin "So, you can fight. We need that. You'll have my vote." he takes another sip, slowly regaining his composure, so though still shaky and weak. "Last night we went back in to rescue another group. Perhaps you should see what remains of them - then you'll see why I asked."
"Hang on, Akhmose."
"I have seen so much blood in the last few days. I had heard romantic tales of traps and crypt-monsters. I imagined myself burning down some half-rotted guardian and unconvering a stone tablet written by Azghaad himself. The reality is not so poetic. It is blood, and dirt, and death. Vermin, traps, undead monsters and the constant stink of smoke from the burned and burning. Even the treasures - like the ancient construct killing machines - will try and kill you." "Make no mistake, there's enough treasure in most of these crypts to let you retire. But the lifespan of tomb robbers is measured in hours. I will not lead another soul to their death, even some poor prosaic, for the hope the gold might leave you wealthy." Azghaad casts some spell upon himself
If we lose Naomi, then we should probably do something complicated with the treasury to deduct her 'share'.
Almost at the same time that Rubani and Shalina came back with Akhmose, a very haggard looking wizard appeared at Namrut’s door. He moved slower than usual and the dark shadows under his eyes told a ‘rough night’.
The young Garundi man squinted painfully in the bright of the desert morning sun, his noble's robes now also encompassing a large hood that shaded his face. "How." he asked with finality "Are you so gods-damned chirpy this morning Akhmose? Is it Alchemy? Gods... I hope it's Alchemy. Whatever it is, tell me you can repeat it. Oh... I need coffee. Real coffee." He looked over the young man waiting in the courtyard "Who's this?" he asks Akhmose, rudely ignoring the young man.
"Well, I need to go to the pub and see a man about a snake. It's not fair to leave them holding a construct worth more than a craftsman will make in a decade - or worrying about what happened."
Azghaad walked into the Tooth and Hookah. Pausing just inside the doorway, as was his custom, he identified the various groups, then walked over to the bar. "It is a custom" he announced to the bar, loudly, "Among warriors, to drink a glass and toast the name of fallen comrades." "Gather round, my fellow tomb robbers. We have a lot of work to do." He counts carefully the number of tomb robbers still present, and works out how many drinks he'll need. It's a lot of drinks he reflected sadly.
Azghaad lines up the 8 drinks and starts calling the names of the dead. He does his best to say something positive about all of them - hoping the others will fill in for those he doesn't know. He starts to slur a little at the end, and turn a little maudlin. "I'd heard ours was a dangerous profession, but it seems like half the people in that square with us are dead or retired already. I think it's getting worse. The ghouls weren't trying to kill Sheerakh, I think they were trying to turn him." He shakes his head
"The Sand Scorpions cared more about protecting their site than their lives - their souls! Doesn't matter how rich you are when you're dead." "All too clear to me - if we don't want to end up another set of names, we need to watch out for each other. After all, we're the only ones who care."
Would everyone have left the tavern by now? I believe we have to pick up the snake.
Since Azghaad went late in initiative, I had him move away and the fire wasn't as extensive as it could have been. But you can assume that some things are on fire (and it's smoking quite a bit in the basement) but there's no immediate and great danger of any explosion or anything like that. Thank you :) "Naomi!" yelled Azghaad, running forward, dropping his staff and lifting the little cleric carefully in his arms. He racked his mind for something that might make the difference... he had never studied healing - mundane or magical - but his companions had. "Rubani! Akhmose! Help!"
Hey, is it possible to get a clarification on the state of the fire? Did stuff catch? Is there a wall of fire between Sheerakh and us? Are we in danger of the supports burning out and the 'roof' falling on us? Is there a pillar of fire about to burst into the sky and call forth the guard (and more ghouls, perhaps)?
passess fort:
Azghaad felt his stomach clench as the stench hit him like a blow. Desperately he tried to retch - but thankfully the trip through a sewer had already relieved him of anything resembling food. Taking a deep breath he resolved to kill these things, and head back to sweeter air before he breathed again. fails fort:
Azghaad was moving when the stench hit him. Desperately he stopped breathing, his lungs half full. His eyes stung, as if acid was brewing nearby. His head started to swim as he realised he had only seconds before he started to pass out, and resolved to use his time well. Azghaad skipped to the side of his group and used a precious puff of air to conjure up Fire. "Throw the Naptha then Run!" he shouted quickly, backing away a little as wave after wave of fire poured from his hands into the room.
Desperately he racked his mind for all he knew of ghouls. It had seemed such an irrelevant subject when he was studying. Those who commanded the undead seldom tolerated such free will, and those who sought immortality preferred vampirism and lichdom. There was something about a bite...
Azghaad trailed along silently - well, as silently as he knew how.
Then the smell hit him. Desperately he searches his mind, hoping for some spell that might keep the filth from his clothes. It was not one he had ever needed, till now. After a few moments paused he sighed, and cast the closest spell he knew.
"Mr. Gly... Azghaad. If you're not feeling up to this then nobody is going to force you. But I fear it's now or never. The night proper hasn't set in. The nocturnal dead are only just rising from their aberrant rest. If the Scorpions are still alive and merely traped as you suggest, then I fear they will not survive the night. I will think no less of you if you choose not to go. You owe these people nothing, and you have already proven yourself a man of character. Were you to strike a camel I would not hesitate to join you, because any fight Azghaad Glyphstele starts has to be a justified one. You're a good man. But I'm afraid I have to go." "Rubani... I think this is a dangerous mistake... but I won't let you go without me at your back, my friend. I just wish we had more."
"Wonderful. If you can call out what you can see, I'll try to write some notes. Er, if you do fall, fall on our side."
Azghaad minded the cage while Shalina talked to the barkeep. The job wasn't hard, though he did have to drag it back to the centre of the table when the repeated buttings from inside moved the cage a little. He was distracted enough that he had not followed the conversation - until Akhmose rose. Quickly running over his memory he held up a hand. "Admirable, friend. But to assault the Necropolis at night? What if they were simply late returning? And I doubt they'll be happy at anyone 'raiding'" the sarcasm is obvious "their site. We could go first thing in the morning. If they're trapped, we can rescue them." Guilt crept into Azghaad's voice towards the end, as he remembered the team he lost to the sand that first day. It's different he assured himself not just because they're prose
The young wizard nodded but didn't correspond in the outspoken greeting. "I am Azaz of Osirion, an eternal seeker of knowledge. How's your hunt going?" "Terribly." Azghaad looked sadly at the ground and shook his head "This is a rough business. My entire team died my first day out - except me, obviously. Three of the Grave Guard quit on the first day, and I joined them. We nearly died twice - no, three times - in our first day alone. The treasure I hoped to find was a little disappointing as well. Primarily all we've found is some simple notes - oh and some gold, and oils and things like that. There was a few fascinating constructs, but we primarily had to destroy or abandon them. It is not the walls carved with historic accounts I had hoped for." "How goes your hunt?"
"Nice to see that there's no digging, but based on these doors, I'd say someone has been here before us. Hmmm - nice doors. Bronze isn't cheap. Suggests they paid a fair bit for security, or possibly for the look." The Wizard adds this last as he takes a careful look at the doors, scratching with his dagger.
"Now, I'm assuming the guards don't go through the doors. That means there could well be something inside here. Tall walls mean shade from the sun, except at noon. There's numerous vermin that might use that."
Azghaad entered the tavern a trifle cautiously. After so nearly coming to blows with the Sand Scorpions last night, He had decided that some caution was appropriate. Looking around the tavern he noted the prose-dominated gang was absent. He smirked in victory - until the reason for the argument occurred to him. They had been afraid of the ghouls. Yes, they had tried to poach a priest, and yes they had been rude... but had they fallen, victims to their own arrogance? Guilt crept over his face. He realised he would not be annoyed to see them turn up, simply late. This is going to haunt me all night, if I don't do something about it.
Fabian:
I figure Nethian clerics probably have some way of measuring their abilities for status purposes. While I think high-powered mages probably are more polite than this normally, I also expect introductions are meant to be done quickly and succinctly. I'm using "Master of the First Circle" to imply he can cast first level spells. Feel free to make something up or tell me I'm crazy if you like. I'll follow your lead :) "Hail Nethys!" he greeted, dragging a chair over and sitting down - heedless of the other fellow's feelings. "I am Azghaad Glyphstele of the Ghostgrove Temple of Nethys. I am a Priest of Nethys, Scholar, Master of the First Circle, and Fire Mage. I am the wizard of the all-gifted exploration team 'The Grave Guard'." All gifted might be stretching it, but Akhmose is gifted even if also unpractised. Need to make a strong introduction if I want to assert my independence.
“Is anyone willing to come with me to help uncle down the shaft so that he can see Akhentepi’s tomb? I doubt that I can manage helping him down and hauling him up on my own…and he will require some help.” "I'd be happy to. I have a spell that should make the going down part safer. Though I'd use the rope anyway." "Wati is just as dangerous as ever - I think you are wise to have company in case the desert vermin attack again."She knotted the rope in order to make a loop for her uncle to sit in so that he could be lowered down. "Rest easy, Namrut. Should anything happen my magic will catch you." When he saw the excitement in his eyes start to die down when they left the tomb, Azghaad brought up a delicate topic. "Namrut... I can see you are a scholar by inclination, even if a merchant by occupation. Shalina has mentioned that you are... not gifted in magic" Azghaad skirts the topic delicately. "While those naturally gifted with arcane power are fortunate, the power is available to those of Will and Intellect. I believe these are attributes you possess. You could learn magic." "It is never too late to start. There are those who have lived far longer than you, and should you find a way to extend your lifespan you might live long enough to reach truly impressive heights. Moreover, you will be spending your life in pursuit of the ART." "If you are interested I will teach you what I can, even induct you into the Ghostgrove temple. But do not undertake this path unless you are sure you can walk it. I do not ask for your answer now. But think on it."
"I am interested in seeing if I can find a way to interfere with its Tuppu using arcane energy. If I can, I may be able to render it impassive. It is likely to be a long process of experimentation. This cage would be ideal for experiments." He giggled a little - seeming very young suddenly
Well, someone else could give Namrut the tour, though as I go through the other options I am coming to think Azghaad is an excellent choice for tour guide. Potentially someone else might look for a strong enough cage (not sure about glass?) for the iron cobra - or at least a chest with a grill under the lid. I suspect displaying the snake might have to wait :/ Finding out info on the next site seems very wise. Sounds like that might be more of a job for people with people skills though ;P He's also like to put out word that he's interested in talking to the Nethians - is there a Nethian temple in town? They tend to be rare... If nothing else he could get his Household to make inquiries at the sellers of magical components. Studying the books is probably Azghaad's preferred method of passing the time. On the other hand, there is no time pressure on when that has to be done by. I do think he'd do a slightly more comprehensive scan than he had already done.
He looked at Azghaad, "Do you know them? Are you also requesting special priviliges?" "No, and no. Simply fellow Nethians. I had thought I knew all the explorers, but I would have remembered them... As for special privileges: the terms were clear when I joined. I have some idea how popular this lottery is with Pharasmins - but I understand it at least leaves some control in the hands of your goddess. I wouldn't ask you to stand against that."
Shalina turned towards Azghaad and asked, “Can you take the package home with you tonight? It should not pose a threat now that the box has been reinforced by rope.” "Yes, that should be fine. I expect I'll need help to carry it though - it's awkwardly large for one person." He sighs "Part of me would very much like to exhibit it at the Tooth and Hookah. Do you think that would be irresponsible bragging, Shalina?"
"The way I see it" explained Azghaad "It's going to take skilled laborers or prodigious magic to get the chariot and the mirror out without permanent damage." he looked around the dry, deserted city "I think hiring anyone to come out here is going to be interesting, or expensive, or both. That means magic. Magic means money. Lots of money."
When Namrut doesn't want the cobra in the house
In a couple of minutes, the ornate hardwood door opened and two people came out, a stylish woman with a foppish hat and young wizard. They were clearly not in a good mood as they walked away. It was also clear that they were worshippers of Nethys by the necklace they both wore. Before anyone had a chance to say anything, they were asked inside the office. Azghaad's head whipped around as he started at the ladies. He paused, shocked, then started to pivot just as they were called in. Visibly torn between following his fellow Nethians and his colleagues he lost his opportunity, and reluctantly walked in to the office and opened his 'sketchbook'.While there was no real style to Azghaad's drawings, they were exquisitely precise in their measurements. Out of habit he wrote down the questions they were asked on another piece of paper. If he could work out what the Pharasmins wanted to know, then exploration could get much easier. After they had recieved their next site (and not before) Azghaad asked "Who was in here before us, please. They had the look of fellow followers of the Way. It would be good to talk shop."
Azghaad, sat on the top of an ancient box with a VERY angry construct inside looked around with wide eyes.
He looks around at the others, grinning like a lunatic. "Uh... has anyone heard of a way to stop a guardian construct attacking?"
"And, uh, I'm a little worried it's going to get me through the lid... Can anyone see a way to keep it in here if I get off?" a worried tone started to creep into the wizard's tone as he realised the precariousness of his pressed posterior.
"So... this is it? Rubani, Naomi... I recognise that on matters like these you're... the most... invested. I'm prepared to let you decide. Shalina, Akhmose, did you want to weigh in?"
Actions 1:
Actions 2:
Actions 3:
Round 2, everyone crowded in:
Round 2, people are actually backing away:
Azghaad let himself be guided back to his own group, and waited until back at their table to hiss
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