Liet joins hands and entreats the god-kings for aid. A burst of positive energy flows through you, healing your wounds and restoring your energy somewhat. As the wave recedes, Liet's head droops in exhaustion from the effort.
You head back through the tunnels and back to the surface. You emerge outside, blinking your eyes in the bright sunlight, surprised that it's still daylight. It feels like you've been underground for weeks, not hours. There is no sign of the fleeing cultist.
You painfully make your way through the twisted alleys of the city back to Bedu's barber shop. The interior is shaded and cool, and the pillows scattered on the floor look invitingly comfortable.
Bedu opens his barber shop to the rest and sets about preparing a small meal of honey bread and cheeses. For the warriors he will enter the bazaar and fetch pork and lamb kebabs.
Then he offers all the food and usual black coffee in its tiny cups.
"Please to be at home so that the discussing of our future can take place."
"As I have said before I wish to know how you came to be dangling over a pit, Hammarubi?"
Indo excuses himself from the house with a bowl of water to wash the sweat and dirt (and a good amount of blood) into the alley.
My apologies, master Bedu. I hope I missed nothing. Among my people,we do not enter a hovel or tent without washing. It should be the same for your house, yes?
While Hammurabi answers the dwarf, Indo settles down with the treasures that responded to his magical sight and attempts to assess who can best use them, and for what.
1d20+7=24, 1d20+7=24, 1d20+7=18
"Well Bedu i am a simple hermit of the jungle, I have a close connection with the spirits of the vines, I had a vision to seek out this temple so I did. I wonder, if the stars ment for me to meet your band of like minded individuals?" Hammurabi, looks a bit nervous, like he is hiding some information, he looks like he wants to tell, but keeps his guard up for now.
First, by individuals:
Bedu:
Indo:
Lotus:
Collected treasures:
2x urumis
mahogany chest and golden goblet set with rubies (which Lotus appraised for 100 gp)
2 suits of ancient half-plate armor
ancient greatsword
scale mail
studded leather
2x light wooden shields
2x saps
handaxe
masterwork club
3x curved daggers
33 gp
serpentscale mail (masterwork)
masterwork temple sword
2x caduceus with 4 snake heads
Queen’s puzzle-chest carved with serpent motif (still unopened)
With identify, Indo can easily identify the magical items:
Cult leader’s cloak
mummified hand on a gold chain
brass serpent ring
Aura moderate abjuration and conjuration
Fashioned of plain brass and shaped to resemble an open-mouthed snake wrapped around its own tail to form a band. The wearer of a serpent ring is immune to all serpent venom and gains a +3 bonus on saving throws against poison damage. In addition, a viper weapon never attacks the wearer of a serpent ring.
The rogue eats the meal that Bedu prepares with great joy. You can clearly see that she isn't used to eating such wonderfull food. Wow, this dwarf sure knows how to feed us. He's a keeper! After the meal, Lotus sits with Indo as he appraises the recovered items. Where possible she aids him with her insight. (1d20+6=11, 1d20+6=13, 1d20+6=23)
Indo examines the embroidery on the cultist's cloak carefully, then speaks. Who among us is unluckier than the rest? That person should claim this cloak. I'd wash it first, though.
2x urumis
2 suits of ancient half-plate armor
ancient greatsword
masterwork temple sword
2x caduceus with 4 snake heads
Queen’s puzzle-chest carved with serpent motif (still unopened)
You can make Appraise rolls for anything you want to know the value of. Also, the mahogany chest holding the goblet might be worth something as well (it's a rare wood). Tell me which rolls go with which item, and I'll tell you the appraised value.
No strength rating, just normal composite bows.
Lotus sits down to go over all the valuables they found underground with Indo. Together they should be able to figure out the correct value of nearly everything. After that they can decide what to sell and what to keep.
Eventually Bedu feels a little more normal. He pulls up the water-pipe and watches the others playing with the treasure, puffing away occasionally.
The shops door veil is mostly drawn across but with a slight gap so that Bedu can watch for people showing too much interest.
After a while, Bedu picks up the puzzle box and starts gently playing with it.
"It is said among my people that the last High King of the Dwarves won his crown by opening a box room such as this before his brothers. It took him eight years to solve the problem. He and the three others had one week in four at the room. The puzzles his father set, were of a fiendish ingenuity requiring great knowledge and cunning to solve."
Lotus sits down to go over all the valuables they found underground with Indo. Together they should be able to figure out the correct value of nearly everything. After that they can decide what to sell and what to keep.
Bedu toys with the puzzle chest for several minutes, but other than sliding the seemingly-random serpentine patterns back and forth, his manipulations seem to have no effect.
"Bedu, if I may" Hammurabi eagerly awaits a chance to look at the puzzle box. He studies it and casts read magic on it to see if any of the swirls has any magical meaning he then make an intelligence check to open it..
Hammurabi studies the chest, mumbling some words of power, but the patterns seem completely abstract, with no hidden meaning. He manipulates the sliding pieces, and after about a minute, a loud click comes from the chest, and the chest opens easily. (Intelligence check 1d20=4=20)
Indo, we can sell most of this stuff at regular dealers. For the older stuff we have to find an antiques dealer to get the best price. Do you perhaps know one that would be interested in the armor and weapon? While she asks, the rogue also sifts through her own memory. Perhaps there is someone she can think of from her own dealings in the city.
Seeing Bedu and Hammurabi play with the Queen's chest, Lotus moves slightly away from the box as she hears the click from Hammurabi's touch. Oh oh...
My apologies, young rogue, but I am new to the city. I know just enough about the law to get by as an outsider.
Indo looks out the window with Bedu for a moment, then lowers his voice. Soon, we should talk about the law and how we all feel about it. Some of us may have strong feelings that could endanger the others. It is wise to choose one's friends carefully, yes?
"True, Indo, follow my lead here I may need your help."
Bedu leans forwards and lightly places his hand on the lid of the puzzle box.
"Before this goes any further, Master Hammarubi, you owe me a tale. It would please me to hear it now. The box can wait."
Bedu smiles widely and strokes his little goatee.
"How did you come to be a sacrifice in the clutches of the Burning Queen of Evil? Know that much hangs on your answer," he finishes softly.
Hammurabi startles at Bedus hand, engrossed in the puzzle box, (looking over to Lotus) "Please dear can you grab me my pack". Back to Bedu "Like all tales dear Bedu this one has a short or long side to it, I am enjoying the meats, the water pipe and the company, so I shall share the long version" Taking the pack from Lotus and carefully setting the box down. "I am a holy man, who believes in choices and freedom, when that was taken away from me I decided to for go my calling and live as a hermit in the jungle, I have heard the call of a higher power that led me to the temple where you found me today good friends." Pulling out faded yellow cloth and habit from the bag. "You see I am a Charlatan of Almudin, and when the new Rani came into power, my passion for that died, I follow a power called the rainbow serpent, who guides me in my time of darkness." refolding the garmets and placing them carefully in his pack "the Rainbow serpent guided me to look in that temple for power to defeat the new Rani, and I shall, so if you are loyal to the Rani or her succubi, then arrest me now, but I place faith in my master, that you are the power that I was ment to find." Hammurabi looks each member square in the eye awaiting his judgement.
Indo appraises the expressions of his companions for a long moment, and then speaks.
You are a brave man, Hammurabi. You barely know us. You have therefore not heard that we were hired by an agent of the government to solve a riddle of crimes that annoys the city's nobility.
When Hammurabi's eyes go wide for a second, Indo raises his palm disarmingly. However, I am a guest of Master Bedu, and not an agent of the city, or the rani. You have nothing to fear from me. My people miss their freedom. I would not insult my father by taking freedom from another man.
Having said just enough, he hopes, Indo goes back to watching his companions for their reactions.
The dwarf sits back solemn. He looks around at Indo, Liet, Pindara, Skittle and Lotus.
"Master Hammarubi. Now that is a TALE. Your clothes and journey must have been a matter of fate. There are many people within the city who have different views on the Rani and her ways."
The pipe bubbles away for a moment.
"This is a small shop on the edge of a bazaar where words travel faster than the wind. I shall forget about your calling and beliefs, after all as a merchant they have no worth to my purse."
"However your words have the ring of truth and honesty between us is worth much more. More still when we may have fates entwined in the future."
Bedu finishes the last of the cold pork kebabs.
"These are my words I hesitate to say but I would guess one or two of the others feel differently."
Lotus brings Hammurabi his pack, wondering why she does such a thing. Then she sits down with one of Bedu's cheese bites to listen to the strangers story.
She sits quietly during the story and the reaction of Bedu and Indo. Her thoughts go back to the puzzle box and the challenge that offers. Tomorrow she thinks after I've slept a good nights sleep.
Bedu nods to Hammarubi and the box. "Perhaps now you should open the box. Watch out for traps. Lotus here has some experience of dealing with such. I would hate your success in breaking the puzzle to lead to the loss of your hand, ha ha ha. Apologies a little dark humour."
Bedu gets up and moves to the front curtain for a good look out.
"Even I know not to open a snakes gift without preparation, these foul cultists would soon see their mother poisoned, so I would defer to any who have the skills to bypass a trap if it indeed hold's the serpents venom....anyone?"
Indo, could you pass me that brass serpent ring. Lotus quickly slips on the ring that should prevent any serpent poison to harm her and shifts her focus to the box. First she ponders the box and tries to perceive what kind of secrets it holds. Once she is ready she starts to fiddle with it to open it. Stand back everyone.
Bedu takes a couple more steps and he is outside the shop, smiling and nodding to the neighbours.
He soon has a comforting thick wall between himself and possible oblivion.
He has a think about the traders and who may be interested in the trinkets found.Know(local)=17
Lotus studies the box, getting a feel for the mechanism and its construction. After a few minutes' scrutiny, she can find nothing obviously dangerous, and cautiously opens the box. Inside is 200 gp in various coinage, a small wooden box holding 6 vials filled with an amber liquid, a round golden amulet, and a single sheet of folded parchment.
The amulet:
The parchment:
Selling items:
Lotus has heard of a fence who deals in stolen goods, though she has never done business with him. His name is Three-Fingers Nammib, and rumor says he can usually be found in a scrap metal shop down the Tin Alley, in Muiu Thral's slums.
Bedu knows of a few jewelers who might be interested in some of the more valuable pieces you found. In addition, he knows that in the posh Upper Menthis neighborhood of the city is a building called the "Little Ziggurat." Six well-known antiquities dealers share this space, and are often interested in purchasing exotic and ancient finds.
Skittle snores away, asleep in a corner of the shop with a full belly.
Selling items:
Lotus has heard of a fence who deals in stolen goods, though she has never done business with him. His name is Three-Fingers Nammib, and rumor says he can usually be found in a scrap metal shop down the Tin Alley, in Muiu Thral's slums.
I know a guy who we can go to if we want to get more for the ancient armor. I never did business with him myself, but I've heard he can be found down in Tin Alley. I suggest we go there once we've healed all our wounds.
"I agree," nods the full dwarf before he walks back into his sleeping quarters and falls down to sleep.
"I know of someone el.." are the last words he says.
*snore snore snore*
Ah the gentle sussuration of a replete dwarf, like a rhinocerous in heat.
Bedu will rest for eight hours.
Seeing the dwarf drop down and start to snore Lotus shrugs. Probably a good idea. She picks out her spot in the barber shop and arranges the cushions and pillows so she can get comfortable. She places her sword unsheathed next to her within easy reach and lets her hand rest on it. I won't be surprised again.
Seeing the party rest Hammurabi finally realses just how tired he truely is, bound and gagged by a cult...not the best way to start a day, he hope tommorow starts better....
Skittle sleeps fitfully, dreaming of snakemen. We he does wake, which is often, he wanders the shop and searches the the shadows for intruders.
Indo, grateful for somepeace and quiet, reviews the items laid out before him on the floor. After taking final stock of them, he changes his bandages and reviews his strips of tanned skin for the arcane secrets they bear. After Skittle finally gets a few hours of sleep, Indo prods him gently.
Skittle, my friend. I have kept a watch, now someone must relieve me, or I will be of no use tomorrow. Do you mind?
The night passes uneventfully, sharing watches as needed. Everybody gets a good night's sleep (and 2 hit points back), which does you a world of good. Liet boosts this with a few healing spells, bringing everyone back to full hp. It's a new day, and the prospect of NOT having to go back down into the tunnels is a welcome one. The question is, where to go?
Bedu wakes after eight hours and goes into the market early. Soon mushroom omelettes are cooking away.
He sorts the valuables into two piles so that Lotus and he can visit the two merchants separately and hopefully keep any questions to a minimum. Of course he would like the rest to come too as protection.
Bedu serves up the food using the last of his precious truffle oil and dwarf bread.
"Need more supplies now that my shop is a flophouse."
RPG Superstar 2013
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I will go to market with you, of course. I fear I have little to add to fencing goods aside from standing behind Lotus and brooding.
Indo devours his omelet while reviewing still more strips of hide. He seems quieter today - surrounded by a pleasant sense of urgency.
Before we begin, Master Bedu, I would pay your normal rates for a hot bath. Also, he gestures at the goods everyone considers keeping, We must agree on who will keep these things if we do not sell them.
Bedu with into Lotus' help sorts the various treasures and equipment.
"Lotus did I tell you of the Little Pyramid in the Menthis District, that may take some of the items of antiquity too. Maybe you go to your friend with one pile of assorted treasures and I shall travel to the other. Indo and Hammarubi can come with me for added protection and you can take Skittle and Liet."
Bedu points to a large pile of mundane pieces now spread across a bedroll. These are the mundane weapons and armour. "Take what you wish from this pile and I shall sell the rest in the Nest Bazaar."
Bedu next points to a pile of more ancient equipment.
"Lotus, perhaps you can trade these with Three Fingered Nammib?"
"I shall visit the pyramid with the mahogany chest and goblet (worth approx. 1000 gold)"
He holds up the pair of snake-headed cadueus and shakes them, "these have no value other than to get us into trouble perhaps. What shall we do with them?"
"There is also 33 gold which can into the the party fund for now or perhaps I could use it to make a steam room and hot bath house for Indo?" jokes the rotund merchant barber. "I can provide hot towels and a shave for now.."
Bedu takes a look inside the chest.
"A further 200 gold for the party pot making 233. These vials of amber, I wonder what they are?"
"Lotus may I view the amulet and parchment? So we have the amulet that Tanish asked us to find. He will be pleased, even more so when he sees the parchment map to Samir's tomb where this could be originating from, the problems with Burning and the force that Lamashtu and her slavers are digging with."
"After we have shaved and cleaned ourselves, then we could split up, sell the goods, then go see Tanish together. How does that all sound?"
Hammurabi looks a bit sheepish, as realises months in the jungle have left him looking rather rough and worn, "Dear Bedu I am a mess, I stink of those snakemen and my hair is all too long and unkept. Could I beg of you to clean me up and make me look of man of this cosmopolitan city."
Bedu stops messing with the treasure and puts a kettle to boil, towels to clean and his strop is sharpening the cut throat razor. He is more than happy to clean his fellow adventurers up.
Bedu next points to a pile of more ancient equipment.
"Lotus, perhaps you can trade these with Three Fingered Nammib?"
"I shall visit the pyramid with the mahogany chest and goblet (worth approx. 1000 gold)"
"Lotus may I view the amulet and parchment? So we have the amulet that Tanish asked us to find. He will be pleased, even more so when he sees the parchment map to Samir's tomb where this could be originating from, the problems with Burning and the force that Lamashtu and her slavers are digging with."
"After we have shaved and cleaned ourselves, then we could split up, sell the goods, then go see Tanish together. How does that all sound?"