Marcus examines the figurines, picking up the pieces to one which was less damaged than the rest, stroking his chin thoughtfully. He collects the fragments of the dolls and stows them in his pack.
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Still here, ready for action.
Still here. Hoping we get a post from Olmek soon! :)
Marcus continues his assault on Doll #2, and Darude continues smashing Doll #4.
Marcus darts to the side and takes another swipe at Doll #2.
We're here for you when you're ready to come back. I hope everything works out soon.
Marcus quirks an eyebrow at the sudden shift in Menedes' voice and posture, but quickly dismisses the thought and focuses on the creatures attacking.
"Darude! Destroy the moving dolls." At Marcus's command, the sandy guardian staggers between one of the toys and Alayi, bringing its sandy fist down to smash the animated toy.
Marcus charges down the corridor to flank with his bodyguard, bringing the the ichor-slicked blade of his machete down on the construct like a guillotine. The blade gleams as Menedes's chant imbues it with additional magical power.
Marcus again commands Darude to advance. "Stand by those urns." Turning to Alayi, he responds. "Depends on how long he is needed. If I devote enough energy to it, I could maintain him for more than an hour. Such a lengthy summons would require much of my concentration, however."
I'll be a bit distracted for a bit too, though I plan to continue posting. Just got laid off, so my focus hasn't been on the forums the last few days.
Marcus once again sends Darude ahead of the group, only following after once the area seems to have been cleared. He has the sandy creature wait before entering the farthest chamber, though. Marcus himself inspects the entryway into the chamber beyond the chariot room, but as usual, relies on Alayi's eyesight.
"If the power of unlife does disturb Akhentepi's rest, we shall send him swiftly back to it," Marcus intones.
Good catch! His DR 5/slashing means that he should only have taken 1 damage after the DR applies.
Roused from his concentration by Alayi's suggestion, Marcus stands. "Yes, of course. Darude's time with us is limited, after all." He turns to the creature. "Open those doors," he commands, gesturing toward the north doors.
"If that was the only defense the ancients thought Akhentepi's eternal rest deserved, I would be quite surprised," remarks Marcus from the other side of the room, crouching down to inspect a particular carving on the wall.
"None of us are 'looting,' Alayi," chides Marcus. "This is an archaeological expedition. The purpose is to learn of this man and the role he played in Osirion's history."
"This room seems clear. Either way..." Marcus once again commands Darude to march forth and stand by the north door, keeping the rest of the group out of the room until Darude has cleared the chamber. Assuming it is all clear, Marcus takes time to inspect the mummified cats and carvings within, taking notes as he goes.
Teamwork! Gimme some aid and we'll have a 22 to disable this sucker.
Marcus shrugs. "It was not my idea for you to follow him so close. He is expendable, you are not." Turning to Satati, he comments, "I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that your healing arts will not help my guardian. Save them for the living." He kneels, and inspects one of the darts. "We are fortunate these were not poisoned. Perhaps they were, once, and time has worn it away." Marcus produces his set of tools. "Perhaps we should work together. I will wedge the plate open. See if you are able to reach the mechanism and jam it." As he begins his work, the rabbit doll on his shoulder hops down to the floor, taking a small mirror from the kit and using it to reflect the torchlight to provide a better view.
Marcus insists on sending Darude at least fifteen feet ahead of the group, even when Alayi gives the all-clear.
Marcus peers into the corridor. "The chamber beyond marks the first room where it is likely that this one," he says, indicating the pile of bones, "Has yet to tread. Be alert for un-triggered traps as we proceed." He shrugs. "And either way, we can send this one ahead of us," he remarks, gesturing towards Darude.
"There was a reason I waited to summon him until we arrived," Marcus replies. Marcus draws his machete as soon as the group reaches the bottom, handing Darude the torch once again. He looks at the body. "Seems we've found our tomb robber," he remarks wryly. He inspects the body for any salvageable items (especially a crowbar).
His search concluded, he slides the desiccated body to the side of the door. "Open this door," he commands Darude, as his sandy bodyguard jerkily steps forward and shoves the doors open.
Aye. I suspect that, like me, he is pretty busy on the weekends.
"Mindlessness can be an immensely valuable trait in a servant," Marcus remarks as he watches Darude descend.
"His appearance may be distasteful, but his usefulness outweighs such sensibilities," Marcus replies. He lights a second torch and drops it down the shaft to see what is below. "Let's see how far this drop is."
"Someone has beaten us here... perhaps they remain inside. If that is the case though, how did the stone wheel and the door, seal themselves again?" Marcus wonders. "I see no mechanism for returning the wheel to its resting place. We should prop it open, along with the door, to ensure we are not trapped inside." Marcus rummages through his pack for a torch, lights it, and hands it to his sandy bodyguard. "Hold this, then stand by the pit," he commands as its hand clenches tightly onto the handle. He retrieves another wedge from his tool kit and takes care to lodge the wheel in place. "Who knows what may lie beyond. Let us prepare for anything." He buckles a shield to his left arm and draws his oddly discolored machete, which seems to grow slick with a thin ichor along its blade.
"This," Marcus grunts as he shoves his back into the wheel, "is my bodyguard."
"I suppose now is as good a time as any to call forth some aid," says Marcus, producing a handful of sand from within a pouch. "Arise, guardian of the sands!" he calls out with a gesture, casting forth his fistful of the fine powder. The sand swirls as it falls to the floor between his fingers, forming into feet, then legs, then a torso, then hands and finally a sunken-eyed face as an emaciated form takes shape like a wind-weathered sculpture of a man. It stands several inches taller than Marcus, and stares blankly ahead. "Move there and push aside this wheel," he directs the construct matter-of-factly, moving to the south side with his guardian. The two lend their combined strength to the effort.
Roll20 is great, I use it for all my home games.
As Marcus enters, he mentions to the others, "Let us make sure the doors remain wedged open. I have no wish to become a permanent resident of this tomb simply because we forgot to leave a way out." He takes the iron wedge from his tool kit and uses it to ensure the doors will not close completely.
"By their juxtaposition with Pharasma, these faces clearly represent one of the ancient pantheon," mentions Marcus. "The iconography is ancient, however. I am unsure which of the old gods they depict."
"This wheel blocks the path beyond. We must take care - this is an excellent place for a trap." Marcus kneels down and inspects the base of the wheel, careful not to touch anything that looks like it might spring a trap on him.
Marcus stops her. "Alayi," he says. After a moment he points to the doors. "Pull."
Marcus emerges from his room in the morning energized, ready to discover history's forgotten secrets. He joins the others for an early pre-dawn breakfast, unsuprised to see that the Circle was far from the only group awake so early. On the trek to the tomb, a rustling in Marcus's heavy coat precedes the emergence of a tiny creature from within one of his many pockets and pouches - a ragged and battered sackcloth doll with forlorn button-eyes and drooping rabbit ears climbs of its own accord to perch on his shoulder. It stands on two legs, balancing easily besides the archaeologist's head, as it seems to inspect the others in the Circle as they walk. If anyone makes a comment on the creature, Marcus simply smiles. "Neve has her servants, and I have mine."
--
At the tomb, Marcus eagerly inspects the entrance. At the signs of forced entry, his brows narrow into a scowl. "Another has been here before us!" he exclaims. "How recent are these markings?!" he mutters to himself, crouching down to examine them. "Nethys's bane," he curses quietly. "Well, nothing for it. Let's get these blasted doors open and see if there's still anything left to find down there." He sighs. "Nothing will get them open with this sand here. Let us hurry." He immediately begins digging the sand out of the way. --
Once the sand is removed, Marcus stretches and winces as his back creaks and pops. "Very well. That's over with - let's get this damned door open." He inspects the entryway again. "A crowbar wouldn't go amiss," he says offhandedly, before producing a rolled-up leather case with numerous tools and gadgets within. Placing an iron wedge into the gap between the doors to get some leverage, he gives it an experimental push.
"It will take stronger muscles than mine to open the way." He glances at the others, sizing each of them up for whichever seems the strongest, and assisting them when they approach the door.
"I will be ensuring nothing goes unrecorded in our exploration. There are historical mysteries to be uncovered through proper documentation, after all."
"I understand the Pharasmins' displeasure. I myself worry that some of the other tombs' explorers will be careless with the historical relics within. At least it is within our power to ensure our own excavations are performed respectfully and without disgracing the honored dead. And if those dead we encounter are not at rest... we can set their souls at peace in the hereafter."
"I'm afraid Akhentepi is a name I'm not familiar with from my studies. Linguistically though, the name pre-dates the Plague of Madness, meaning the tomb's occupant likely was interred circa 2400 AR." He smiles. "We will be exploring a crypt sealed over 2,000 years ago." Unfortunately, the tomb would need to be over four thousand years old to hold any clues as to the Pharaohs of Ascension... but any pre-plague tomb could indeed hold clues related to the Enigma, muses the archaeologist, pleased. I'm certain I'll be able to discern a more precise date once I'm inside... and I can calculate whether this Akhentepi lived during a significant planetary conflux with Aucturn.
Marcus pushes his way through the crowd, and produces the token to the officiant when he reaches the stage.
"A good plan," chimes Marcus. "Let us depart - a momentous opportunity awaits us on the morrow."
"Wise rules," Marcus remarks, as he stows the silver token in a secure pocket. "I am pleased that the Lady of Graves' followers have taken part in this exploration. I hope that none will overstep these boundaries."
*Immediately adds The Tooth & Hookah to inventory.*
Marcus shakes the proffered hand of Lady Hypaxes, his other hand covering half of his face as a subtle hint to a fellow worshiper of Nethys. "Marcus Bale at your service, milady. We're at The Tooth & Hookah as well. I'll be sure to get in touch if we are fortunate enough to find any Nethysian relics. It is best to keep such items within the faith, of course." She seems an interested buyer. Far more likely to get a good price from one so interested, he muses. Turning to the clerk, he speaks. "We are the Circle of Six, and are as such, six in number. I, Marcus Bale, will serve as spokesperson."
In games where encumbrance becomes important, it's usually possible to just handwave it entirely simply by buying a mule. :)
GM, would you mind if I used Variant Multiclassing (Magus) for Marcus? I think he's going to become more of a gish build and that would really help. It won't change anything about him until he hits level 3 anyway.
You really don't need to favorite every single post, you know. Heh.
"Very well. I will drop off my things in my room and submit the paperwork. Menedes and I can share a room, if you'll be joining us," he offers, turning to the man.
I post a lot more frequently when I'm at work. I was off today so I had a lot less time to read through the thread, heh.
"I notice he didn't say which Pharaoh," Marcus observes. "But I disapprove as well. None of us are an agent of the Pharaoh." He glances at the others. "I assume not, at least. It would be inappropriate to take on such a name." He thinks for a moment. "Perhaps something more general. How about 'The Circle of Six.'"
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he says to Salomae with a smile, giving her a firm handshake.
Marcus responds to the plain-looking man. "If you want to have any hope of getting into the necropolis, you will need companions. What can you contribute? Have you power, or skills, that would be of use in the tombs?" To the undine, he asks, "It would be an honor to have you with us. What is your name?" He sizes up Salome. Now this is one who knows how to handle herself. You can see it in her stance, and her gaze, he thinks. "We could definitely benefit from your help, Salome."
"Suit yourself. Good luck in getting accepted into the lottery alone, though. The priests only grant the right to delve to those they expect to succeed. Preordination only convinces if you've seen the vision yourself, in my experience."
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