It seems like the later stages of this adventure path see a major threat to Khemet's rule arising, right? Why doesn't he send an army of elementals to deal with the mummy?
I'm just starting the AP, but do you think I should have some background war or something going on to explain why Khemet doesn't respond to Hakotep's return?
The truth of the matter is that Mummy's Mask assumes a few things about the PCs, the most important being that they want to be heroes, and are interested in effectively 'saving the day'.
Of course, they COULD run off to Sothis after say, book 3 or 4, and explain everything that's going on to the Pharaoh (assuming they can get an audience, though being the saviors of Wati will help, in addition to possibly having charmed Mumminofrah).
But that's not what the AP is built to assume, rather that the PCs take their own initiative to stop what's going on. If the Pharaoh can be convinced of Hakotep's return it's possible he'd rally an army and have the PCs at the head in order to thwart Hakotep. If this ends up being the case in your game, you can certainly adjust for this contingency.
Maybe since the PCs don't get to the slave trenches in time Hakotep manages to actually wipe out Wati? You have a number of possibilities you can put forward. Ultimately, though, if the PCs decide to head to Sothis, you could certainly punish them with the destruction of a city for not taking their own initiative to halt Hakotep's return.
Ah, I figured the PCs will want to deal with Hakotep. It just seems like Khemet should be stepping in. I've read reviews of the last few paths and I got the impression that some substantial amount of time passes between Isatemkhebet attacking Wati and the PCs confronting Hakotep.
Khemet should be involved after the attack on Wati, right? Or is there not enough time for him to come in?
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The time assumption between the pyramid attack on Wati and the presumably months slow travelling it to the Khepsutanem to me sees the Ruby Prince bolstering his armies preparing for an attack from the sky. The PC's are basically immediately heading back to Ipeq then further west immediately after they escape the little pyramid. Unless they confided in Sebti or Ptemenib where they were going, the PCs still are the only folks who know 1) that the slave trenches are the Khepsutanem, 2) that Hakotep is a legit threat, 3) that the Khepsutanem is a Shory tech WMD, and 4) have the slightest notion that the Khepsutanem can bring down Hakotep's base of operations. Khemet, unless he divines that the PC's are the good guys in all this, has no idea what sort of plot devices are rolling in shadow of the western mountains, only that a pyramid hovered over Wati, demanded the Heroes of Wati, then ceased being an immediate threat.
You really need to suspend some disbelief on that factor, for the reason Nargemm gave. Besides, even before this, why didn't the librarians (and only the librarians) from Tephu take the ferry across the river, party up with Sebti, and win book 2 in a couple of days? Because its the heroes' job.
Thanks for your thoughts, Arch. I can see ahead a little more now. :)
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I think it is assuming a lot to think that Khemet would know what is going on. Khemet is not omniscient. I think it is safe to assume that he does not know what is going on yet and when he feels in danger his first actions are going to be defensive. Reinforce his own base of operations, Sothis, first. Then reinforce his most important cities. Nothing in the AP suggests that he has not done these things, at least as far as I have read, still studying the AP in prep to run. Sure the best defense is a good offense but where should Khemet attack, he doesn't know who Hakotep is, much less where he is?
If PCs always just ran to the authorities, there would be a lot fewer plots available, and I know I would be disappointed if my players just left problems to the legitimate authorities.