Entombed with the Pharaohs - why hire a translator?

[Elora]

I just started running a play-by-post of Entombed with the Pharaohs (set in Eberron, so a few changes). The antiquities auction is going well so far, but I'm having a bit of trouble thanks to the comprehend languages spell. In short, I'm concerned about it instantly destroying the mystery of a "dead language" I decided to use in place of Ancient Osirion, as well as destroying any motivation the PCs might have for hiring Neferet Anu.

Any suggestions?

[Robert Hawkshaw]

Some help for your dilemma comes from the description of the spell itself: "The ability to read does not necessarily impart insight into the material, merely its literal meaning." and "It does not decipher codes or reveal messages concealed in otherwise normal text. "

Its sort of like relying on bablefish or google translations of an ancient egyptian text compared to hiring the curator of the museum of cairo. One will word for word translate, and the other will understand metaphor's, short hand, slang, codes, history, context etc..

Also, the translator is a babe :)

[Sean K Reynolds]

Good analogy. :)

[Krome]

mmmm based upon the above, it makes perfect sense.

If a document said to "wait in the shadow of the obelisk as the pyramid's shadow meets the horizon" but the spell could easily "translate" as "delay in the dark stick twilight conjoins the mound."

The PCs would simply look at one another and scratch their heads and start trying to figure out the height of the stick and try to pull an Indiana Jones thing while trying to find the mound of twilight...

Or decide to beat the answer out of the GM... :)

I am about to run that adventure too. Thanks for bringing that up. I'll mess around and make lots of nonsensical translations. :)

[Michael Kortes]

Cool issue. Here’s my two cents:

Spoiler:

“Nepheret’s” infiltration isn’t actually required for the mod’s plot so if the player’s are ultra suspicious and she can’t find an angle to get in, so be it – good on the PCs. It’s a pretty open adventure so don’t worry if any given sub-plot takes a beating, there’s still plenty of mischief to be had. If she can’t join, she simply helps out Her Majestrix’s Expeditionary in other ways.

Though I will say that when I’ve ran it as a GM, it has never really been Nepheret’s value as a translator that has gotten her inside the party. Rather it has been the planted mystique which falsely hints that she is somehow connected to the Four Pharaohs of Ascension. For example, the halfling has re-shaped a bogus artefact so that it resembles her and planted it at the auction at the adventure's opening. PCs that connect her to the carving might pursue the lead. She also has a fake birthmark to further play up the destiny angle. If confronted about these clues, Neferet always denies it, deliberately fuelling the PCs' suspicions that there might be something there – she’s read her reverse-psyche 101 text.

While fun, none of this solves Elora’s other concern about preserving the mystique of a dead language which is a good point. For that, I love Rob’s idea.

[Elora]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I had originally considered either limiting the spell to living languages or to only understanding spoken words (not written), but I like this interpretation much better.

And it looks like getting the PCs to hire Neferet isn't going to be a problem at all. Much along the lines of Mike's mention of Neferet using reverse-psyche to enhance her mystique (above), I just had them overhear her "introducing" herself to Julistar and trying to get a position on his expedition. Now they think it was their idea to steal her from him. *grin*

[Elora]

Hey Kortes - by the way, if you feel like following along at all, the fun is happening here: Eberron: Beyond the Pillars of the Sun. I wasn't sure how well the antiquities auction would work in PbP, but the players are really getting into it now. :)

I've placed the pyramids in the Blade Desert in disputed territory between the Talenta Plains and Valenar, so there's going to be some added encounters involving halfling outriders on dinosaurs and a roving warband of Valenar elves on horseback. Julistar is now a Count from Karrnath, with a Bone Knight bodyguard and a secret devotion to the Blood of Vol.

[Michael Kortes]

Ah! I didn't recognize you Elora - it's Lady Scatha!

Thanks for the link! That is a very cool adaptation.

[Elora]

Shhh...Lady Scatha is busy hiding from the law at the moment. ;)

You're welcome! I'm glad you like the adaptation :).