”I respond well to challenges,” the dwarf deadpans.
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"That ring is....interesting," Epperson mounts a grim nod of approval. "It's almost as if it curses the already cursed. I am impressed." He heaves a big sigh. "I confess my disappointment as to the lack of curses present." He sniffs at the canopic jars. "We could probably sell these as well."
Epperson thinks to himself. "There are a few doors to the west of here that we've not yet explored. There's still a chance we will answer the mystery of the bloody footprints."
"Hunh. More space; no bloody footprints.....sarcophagus!" Epperson's attention is immediately diverted to the ornate-appearing sarcophagus, his eyes ablaze with fervour. "A perfect setting for a curse if ever I saw one!" The dwarf approaches eagerly, but with trepidation, avoiding the summoning circle (and his weapon and shield drawn).
Epperson grunts as the footsteps of the defeated fade away. "We should determine what we know so far about these bloody foot prints," he reasons. "We only saw them in the octagonal room with the empty chest, yeah? Headed away from the stairs..." Epperson scratches his beard. "And we didn't see them anywhere else. Maybe we go back and look again?"
Epperson clears his throat and addresses everyone - including his party members. "None of this matters. We're all grave robbers, so none of us have the moral authority to pass any kind of judgement." He turns to the members of the defeated Scorched Hand. "I have no grudge against any of you. It seems your ass-hat of a leader there wanted to kill us. She posted snipers and mercenaries outside of this place who attacked us as we approached. I firmly believe that none of you - " he eyeballs the Nethysian priest just to be sure - "knew of that ill-thought plot. Now that she's dust, your slate is clean with me but any future actions starting NOW will be judged afresh." He then turns to his colleagues, specifically looking at Mahmoud. "We provided mixed messages to the half-elf mercenary. Aerith promised an equal share of loot for their services; Tribim just asked them to refrain from joining in the conversation. Mahmoud, you later told them that they needed to fight in order to get a full share." Epperson grimaces in disgust. "They did not raise a weapon or cast a spell against us. I say that they get a full share. I don't rightly care, but that's my opinion. Maybe this is an opportunity for us to return to the Five Shadows again. I'm sure that we'll have more work." The dwarf gives the female merc a considering glance before clearing his throat. "I also would like to claim that silver holy symbol to Nethys." Epperson picks up the holy symbol and immediately hands it to the Scorched Hand priest with a nod. "Like I said, none of this matters. We were sent to canvas, explore, and secure this location. Our work isn't done as there's someone or something with bloody feet wandering around here and it's none of you." He turns back to the Shadows. "I think that we should let them leave so that we can continue our work and then register this place as cleared with Sebti and the Pharasmins. I would apologise for the speech but, well....you know." The hint of a smirk appears on the Groetus devotee's face.
”It doesn’t really matter - all of it - but you can stabilise your friend there. If he wakes up and starts using that wand of his again, then Fanny here is going to feast on your eyeballs.” Epperson takes a guard stance around the two downed combatants.
Apologies. Posted.
Epperson gets a bit crispy in the gout of flame from the be-hatted one, but doesn't let it distract him as he spies his allies entering the room. he targets the priest tending to Aziz with both his tongue and his flail, as does Fanny.
"So be it," Epperson growls as Tribim absorbs the force blast. One moment the dwarf is with his comrades; the next moment he stands behind the Scorched Hand. The dwarf's calling card echoes out proudly, aimed squarely at the leader in the broad hat. On the contrary, his flail's aim is the wand-wielding Aziz.
"Fanny! Away!" The shadow of the bird flies up and out of Epperson's breastplate, aimed straight for the priest.
Apologies for my silence. Very busy weekend. I’ll get back to posting tomorrow.
I would agree to all of these. Their leader is duplicitous and the mercenary likely would jump ship if offered equal pay. I'd ask Aerith to 'port me to the wand-wielding hothead, please. Fanny can also be useful as distraction to spell casters.
Epperson cocks an eyebrow at his comrades, clears his throat, and adds: "What they said."
Epperson pulls the untouched holy symbol from the flames and gingerly touches it. After determining it to be unchanged, he shrugs. ”Probably not cursed. Maybe like the other fountain we saw?” He hands back both items.
The dwarf nods. "I should check that out," he surmises, grabbing the recently-acquired wooden holy symbol of Nethys and the spear. Epperson then approaches the pool and thrusts the holy symbol - dangled from the tip of the spear - into the blue flames to see what happens while trying to keep a safe distance.
Oh, I'm sorry - I thought that Tribim was using the new and fancy spear. Epperson's perception ain't great, so it doesn't really serve him as an upgrade in that sense, but if it has reach (the spear), then that works nicely with Epperson's patrol abilities. The adamantine flail is nice though 'cuz adamantine. Happy to do whatever serves the party best. And also - Happy Thanksgiving from New Zealand!!!
The dwarf looks around.
"Speaking of what's wise, I think it's time that I tend to my wounds," quips the dwarf as he unhouses his wand and tries to get it to work.
"MUCH better," he grunts, replacing his wand in his belt.
Epperson holds onto each item in turn with a bit of melodramatic zeal, daring a curse to enter his body.
"Ow," Epperson grunts as the skeleton's spear stabs a less-vital section of his body thanks to Aerith. "My thanks," he nods at the elf as he grunts and swings.
"THBBBBT!"
”Wow!” Epperson remarks as the skeleton channels void energy. ”That’s impressively resourceful. Oh well, time to end it.” The dwarf strides in.
Epperson hefts his flail, considers Aerith's knowledge, notes Mahmoud's enthusiasm, nods, then sets into pulping one of the creature's legs with his weapon. "Even if it gets back up, it won't be able to chase us on a lame leg," the dwarf reasons.
Epperson blinks in surprise as the sneaky rogue yells. "Surely those that we are following won't be expecting us....perhaps stealth continues to be a key tactic?"
"Steady on," the dwarf calls out, hefting his shield and advancing on the zombie. "This could be a mummy-----aw, blast. It's not." The disappointment is plain in Epperson's voice.
"Thbbbbbt." The disappointment even creeps into the malefactor's curse as his apathetic swing sails wide of any mark.
Is that saving throw vs fear a curse effect, GM?
Epperson grunts as the zombie falls. ”Wonder if there’s anything to these zombies hanging around and our uninvited collaborators. As in, could they be creating them?” He lets that question hang as he fiddles with his healing wand.
Hey y'all - I'm going to be the lead for a large work conference beginning tomorrow. I will be tied up for the remainder of this week. My ability to reply to games that I'm in will be considerably limited. It's not that I'll go dark - but I might. Anyhow, FYI. I should be back in 6 days. Thanks!
Satisfied with finally cursing a foe, Epperson concentrates on preventing any attacks from landing his colleagues.
The dwarf grunts at the suggestion. "I'll see what I can do," he murmurs.
Epperson adds for good measure.
Epperson peers hesitantly at the Nethys statue. "This would be a good place for a trap, methinks," he reasons.
"That's a bit strange," the dwarf points out the bloodied footprints to the others. "We saw similar tracks upstairs. I wondered if they were a ruse." "I'm less convinced now. Whoever came in here before us has been injured."
Epperson deflects the second blow of the akhat away from Tribim, then attempts to slam home his flail.
Epperson stoically grunts and takes some of the damage for Mahmoud. ”Come here, you confused cornice,” Epperson grunts, stepping and swinging with his flail.
”Uh oh,” the dwarf grunts, moving to aid his teammates.
You've found the akhat. Interesting linguistics point here - the word derives from the Coptic language. In that alphabet, the letter “k” is pronounced as a hard “s”. Further linguistics dissection: That is a complete lie, but didn’t I just make you say the word “asshat” in your head and buy my story for a hot second?
The dwarf quickly handles both of the silver items, critically assessing them for his favourite thing - curses.
Epperson dodges the two claws then brings his flail down on the thing, hard.
As the things transform at the dwarf's production of holy water, his old habits kick in. the malefactor waggles his thumb at his nose as he smashes the flask into the other undead horror's face. Or tries to.
Epperson pulls out a flask of holy water from his belt at Mahmoud’s suggestion of hauntings.
The dwarf cocks his head to the side at the appearance of the humans speaking in a dead language. ”This whole place is supposed to be deserted and quiet. There are entirely too many people here for my liking.”
I’m really sorry to hear that, GM. Take your time. Peace to you and your family.
"Lead on," the dwarf grunts, hefting his shield and flail.
”If they set up snipers to attack us before we came in, do you think they may have tried to set up fake footprints to throw us off their trail?” Epperson reasons. ”Not that it matters at all, but if they are who we think they are, aren’t they keen to recover stuff from here related to Nethys first? Delays would be helpful to them.”
”Ah-HAH!” Epperson concludes.
"It is a puzzle what these rooms were used for, but I think we can all agree that restless undead were not the original purpose. That said, I wonder how those we pursued bypassed them."
"The hieroglyphs might just reference the chest and nothing else," Epperson reasons. "As in, don't try to open this chest if you've got magic items on you." The dwarf stares at the chest, trying to determine if it has been opened from a few paces away.
I’m a bit confused, then. Is there a door to the north of the octagonal room?
GM, I need some orientation to our map. Is there a compass rose?
Epperson hums to himself, then moves to the south door and takes a listen.
He then takes out the tarp used to shield the party from the sun on the day most of them met. Looking at the door, he tries to determine if the door opens into the room or into the next room. If it's the former, he finds a way to tie the long tarp across the door frame, providing at the very least further resistance to opening the door. At the askance looks from his crew, he murmurs, "Not that it matters in the greater scheme, but I would rather face one room of baddies at a time."
Agreed!
Epperson's eyes light up with delight at the treasure trove but for differing reasons as he moves to pick up the wand. "This will come in exceedingly handy for combatting curse effects should they land!" he says, touching the wand of restoration. "I would be very happy to carry this for use as needed given that I am less prone to be affected by curses given my Groetus-derived resistance!"
He then gives the ancient tablet a cursory glance. "It would appear that knowing Ancient Osiriani could be useful as well to read up about curses placed in an ancient tongue."
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