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The woman steps away from her guards, and towards the party. As she approaches, she produces a folded piece of paper. "Baketra," she introduces herself. "The lottery appears to be coming to an end," she continues. "And I don't see anyone from your party up on the stage."
As Mahzuzi flounders, you all notice a young woman standing near your party, flanked by four bare-chested men. Each of the men brandishes a khopesh. The woman arches an eyebrow, and smiles to herself as Mahzuzi finishes his sentence.
The two acolytes sitting with Sebti pull two large ceramic pots from beneath the table. After each of them pulls a token from their pot, they hand them to Sebti. Approaching the edge of the stage, she calls out ”Daughter’s of the Desert. Send one of your members, along with your writ of exploration, and meet me on the stage.” The group of women let out a sharp squeal, and they discuss for a minute who will go on stage. Once they select someone, you see a young girl, no more than eighteen sheepishly climb up on the stage. Sebti examines her paper, and passes her another piece of paper. The young girl is directed to stand behind Sebti, as the next group is called up.
He is surprised not to see the greedy man in any group here trying to delve for ancient treasures himself. Yes, it is surprising that you don't see him. There ARE dozens of adventuring groups, a couple of thousand people (including spectators) packed into the marketplace.
DC 13 Kn Rel: Remember How This Came to Pass
The Plague of Madness was unleashed upon the city of Wati while religious authorities were engaged in infighting. This rule is a reminder that the necropolis remains a holy place, and those who engage in needless conflict and banditry are not only criminals, but accursed. Every Slave's Hut Is a Memorial
Honor the Departed The dead should be treated with
As the morning sun creeps across the sky, and your shadows grow shorter, a hush runs through the crowd, and you notice Sebti standing at the edge of the platform, looking over the crowd. She holds her hands up, and you can see how young she is, but with a strong air of authority, as the crowd quiets without a spoken request. Once she has everyone's attention, she traces a spiral on her chest. ”Let our souls be harvested a different year, not this one.” When her voice carries across the marketplace, it is like the sound of whistling birds. Finishing her prayer, she recaps the history of the Necropolis. Sebti concludes by saying the following. ”Many of you have already approached the temple requesting specific sites to explore, but we must leave these matters to fate. The Lady of Graves is a far better judge of destiny than we of this mortal sphere.” She turns slightly to the east, ”The gates of the Necropolis will be opened tomorrow at sunrise. Use tonight to prepare yourselves for your tasks ahead. As you venture through that holy place, let these three rules guide your endeavours.” She holds up one finger. ”Remember how this came to pass.” Two fingers held up. ”Every slave's hut is a memorial.” With three fingers held up, her eyes seem to flare. ”Honor the departed” She smiles at the assembled crowd, opening her arms wide. ”With the Lady's blessing, may the lottery begin!” -----
----- Necropolis History: In -1608 AR, Pharaoh Djederet II ordered the construction of a grand city to mark the birthplace of the Osirion's greatest natural resource: the River Sphinx, springing from the confluence of the Asp and the Crook. With its early foundations magically laid by the church of Nethys, the city sprang to life within just a year. Named Wati, the riverside town soon dominated trade across southern Osirion. Hardwoods and spices from Katapesh and the Mwangi Expanse bound for Sothis, and manufactured goods and luxuries from the nations surrounding the Inner Sea bound for Osirion's southern territories, all paused long enough in Wati's warehouses and markets to make its citizens famously wealthy. For centuries, Wati endured through political upheaval and the births and deaths of entire dynasties as it dominated its younger sister cities of An and Tephu. But Wati's destiny was forever warped in 2499 AR, when the cult of Lamashtu unleashed the Plague of Madness
It took almost half a millennium for Wati's fortunes to reverse thanks to the church of Pharasma. With the tacit permission of Osirion's Keleshite sultan, a Pharasmin priest named Nefru Shepses marched on Wati in 2953 AR
Over the next 30 years, Nefru Shepses and his followers recovered the bodies of those slaughtered in the Plague of Madness from their hasty, makeshift graves and the Pharasmins walled off that portion of the city that had
Danger is go! Gameplay thread opened.
The bustling desert city of Wati is near bursting with excitement. Adventurers from every corner of the Inner Sea region have assembled here beneath the hot Osirian sun to explore the tombs of the city's necropolis, waiting only to be assigned their first sites for exploration. Surrounding the participants, the public has gathered to observe the ceremony as well. There is a festival-like quality in the air, and numerous street vendors are hawking goods and refreshments to participants
In front of the imposing edifice of the Grand Mausoleum, an immense awning has been erected between decorated pillars in the market to provide shade for the priests of Pharasma overseeing the lottery. Beneath the awning, two urns sit atop a table elevated a few feet above the ground on a wooden stage constructed for the event. The high priestess of the Grand Mausoleum, Sebti the Crocodile, sits behind the table, while two acolytes confer with her at either side. Gathered around the party are a number of other adventuring parties. To the left, an ensemble of women dressed in dusty rags, shouldering bandoliers of knives and stabbing weapons. Off to the right, a rag-tag group of halflings all sporting topknots. Behind you, a raven-black tengu squawks under its breath, his human companions forming a protective circle. In front of you, a half-ogre lazily twirls a club around, while his dwarf friends narrowly avoid being clobbered. -----
There are links in the text above for everyone's viewing pleasure.
Todoth
You approach the southern edge of the city, and see a large obelisk dominating the eastern portion of the city. Passing through the throngs of people, most of them give you a wide berth. Eventually, you find a large open marketplace clustered between two imposing structures. The main gate to the marketplace has a rope spanning its two pillars, adorned with disembodied hands. Jabari
A small pile of coins sits on the table beside your bed, and you wonder when the temple's generosity will run out, and you'll be forced to pay for your own accommodations.
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