NT's Mummy's Mask: The Half Dead City

[NikolaTesla]

Spoiler: Character Sheets

Show

Ilepisys the Mage
Anai Nahas the Inquisitor
Boru the Sentinel
Vic Shelly the Incanter

Graves are considered sacred in the tradition of Osirion, as they hold a deep seated belief that one's remains and possessions are vital to successfully completing their journey through the Boneyard to be judged by the Lady of Graves and the Guardian of the Tomb, Pharasma and Anubis. However, Osirion is an old civilization with many burial sites that have ages in excess of 6,000 years old. Surely these ancient dead have completed their journeys through the boneyard by now? Thus was the reasoning of the current monarch of Osirion, the Ruby Prince, 7 years ago when he opened up ancient burial sites to exploration by adventurers both native and foreign. The prince knew that even with foreign explorers, the vast majority of the items recovered [stolen] from the dead would be sold well before it left Osirion's borders, thus bringing back great lost treasures and encouraging not only hundreds of explorers to come to Osirion but also creating an industry to support them. The net result was that with each new gravesite opened, Osirion experienced an economic boom.

As might be guessed, the church of Pharasma was none too pleased with the Ruby Prince's policies, but they realized quickly that they had two choices: 1, oppose the exploration and thus lose all control over it when the Ruby Prince overrode them and did it anyway or 2, grudgingly support it so that they could impose some rules to maintain some sanctity for the dead, despite the sacrilegious circumstances. Wisely, they chose the latter.

Hundreds of adventurers came to Osirion to brave the dangers of the grave and make themselves rich with the ancient treasures they found, but in a few places local politics have managed to keep the ambitious adventurers out. In particular, the ancient city of Wati, known more commonly as "the Half-Dead City" managed to keep it's enormous necropolis closed for the last 7 years, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the Grand Mausoleum (an exceptionally large and powerful Pharasman church) and the local taboos on the place. Wati's necropolis is a walled off portion of the city that occupies a full quarter of the city proper, and though the Grand Mausoleum is quick to put down any undead uprisings, every once in a while something like a vargouille will slip through and attack someone.

Eventually though, the prince's decree prevailed and now the bustling desert city of Wati is near
bursting with excitement. Adventurers from every corner of the Inner Sea region have assembled in the Sunbust market beneath the hot Osirian sun, ready to explore the tombs of the city's necropolis and 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 and spectators alike. Some merchants have even brought what can only be considered adventuring gear to sell as last minute convenience items to explorers, while others advertise that they'll buy recovered treasures and antiquities from those who visit their establishments.

The Grand Mausoleum for it's part has decided to play the part of a neutral arbiter for these proceedings, and thus has elected to use a random lottery to assign exploration sites in the necropolis. Not everyone is happy about this, but the church figures its the best way to keep everyone from excitedly going to the most promising locations and then fighting over the treasures therein. Plus, they can make the best of a poor situation by better mapping out the place and learning the history of each site.

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.

Spoiler: Sebti the Crocodile

Show

Feel free to describe where you are, what you're doing, how you got to Wati, your travels with your group, etc. Also, feel free to roll any skill checks you like.

[MesiDoomstalker]

Anai was trembling with excitement. She stood amongst the gathered crowd in front of the Grand Mausoleum, apologizing periodically to her neighbors as her excited bouncing and fidgeting caused her to bump into them. She had been standing in this spot since sunrise and her enthusiasm hadn't waned in the intervening hours as other prospective looters filtered into the market. Wati was so different than Sothis. Even the smell was different. She had grown accustomed to the dense smell of humans in Sothis but here in Wati, it was like she could smell everything. She smelled the sizzling kebabs, the rich spices making her mouth water. She smelled the wood of the podium, fresh. The smell of each attendee wafted to her nose as they arrived one by one till it was a roiling sea of smells.

As she waited impatiently, she looked back over the last two weeks that lead to her being right here. "Please Nasaab! I promise, I won't be in any danger! I won't go alone! The professor gave a withering sigh. He had heard the plea dozens of times in the last few years. The standard answer was "No" but this was different. Wati's Necropolis was massive, certainly, but it was also safe. As safe as old tombs could be. She wouldn't have to trek across vast tracks of desert, she'd only need to charter a boat up The River Sphinx. She wouldn't be besieged by competing looters laying claim to their prize; the Necropolis was large and the local Pharasmin church was going to arbitrate its division fairly. Yes.

Anai sighed. "Alright. I'll go-" She paused as she processed what Nasaab said. Her expression exploded in joy. Really!? Oh Nasaab thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank- Nasaab quieted her with a placating hand. A few conditions. You go as the Ministry of Cutlure's official representative. That doesn't mean you get to boss people around. I assume you already have people in mind to accompany you? Anai nodded vigorously. Good. I have someone I'd like to join you. She's... Nasaab hesitated before continuing. A foreigner. But don't disrespect her. She's an expert on Undead. She'll be invaluable if you run into any trouble in Wati. Anai's facade faltered but didn't fade. Stiffly she nodded. Ok. No worries. I'm sure we'll get along swimmingly.

She flew from the Exhibitory. She had to inform Boru before he left Sothis!

[digiman619]

Boru had been in Sothis as part of the seasonal market time when Anai came to him with her assignment. As a faithful of Pharasma, he had been against the opening of the tombs, but he understood the politics behind it. Still, he felt that if the tombs were to be opened, the dead needed to stay in their eternal slumber. Undead were a nasty thing; he'd lost more than one relative to the things.

In fact, now he thought about it, that's how he first met Anai; her father was a Pathfinder and he used his clan as guides to reach a dangerous tomb. The trip ended up killing his one of his cousins, but it was a risk he had sworn to uphold to keep Pharasma's her own. Afterwards, he had invited him and his family to feast and prayer and he had met his wife and daughter. Now, all these years later, she had come to him about an expedition to another tomb. Hopefully it would be far less dangerous that the one that led to their first meeting, but if the ancients decided to rise, he would be there to return them to their rest. He let his clan know if his absence and followed Anai and the rest of the company to Wati.

Now as they approached the Grand Mausoleum, he turned to his old friend. "Well, we've finally made it. You want to do the honors?"

[MesiDoomstalker]

Anai was brought back to the moment as Boru spoke to her. She gripped his sleeve, nearly squealing like a child awaiting a present. OH yes! Ahem I mean, I'd love to. She turned her attention back to the stage, before peering around the crowd. Where's Ilepy? Or the sorceress? I would have thought they'd be front and center with us. Her tone was miffed but it didn't reach her face.

[Kagari1605]

Ilepisys walked through the crowds towards the stage up at the front. While she was eager to explore the tombs, as they possibly held manuscripts of new magic and sword techniques for her to learn. She couldn't help but think back to her father, who was ailing due to some unknown illness. She yawned as the sun glared into her eyes, she had gotten a little bit of sleep last night, thanks to a contract that had run long. As she neared the stage she saw Anai, and began to feel excited.

When she had gotten the message from Anai that she had been granted permission to visit. Ilepy was excited, because while she had been on some contracts to escort people to tombs, she herself had never been inside them. As she neared the front she spotted her friend and the exhaustion from a late night was instantly swept away by excitement. She stopped and made sure that everything was prepared for a day of adventuring, her spell book ready, her sword sharpened and her kit was full.

Once she was sure that everything was prepared and ready to go, she approached her friend and shouted Anai!! I am over here. Stay where you are, I will be there shortly trying to get her attention. She shoved a few people out of her way as she approached her old friend.

[NikolaTesla]

Sebti the Crocodile, High Priestess of the Grand Mausoleum rises to her feet and looks over the crowd. Sebti seems surprisingly young to hold such a distinguished position, but she has a confident air of authority. After calling for silence, she begins:

"Wati endures, or so the local saying goes. The people of Wati, known for their even tempers and and shrewd wit have survived peace, poverty and prosperity, and survived decimation at the hands of a mad god's cult. But Wati's people answer each challenge with innovation, tenacity, and deep bonds of community." Thus said Priestess Ankhtah Shepses in 3076 AR.

Explorers, both you foreigners and those who have come from our sister cities! Wati has a rich and ancient history, long preserved by the Lady of Graves. Indeed, it was by her power in the great priest Nefru Shepses that Wati was reclaimed from the plague of unholy death and undeath. We honor her.

With that she steps forward as if to pray, but rather than raising her hands to the sky she crouches down, her fingertips gently touching the top of the platform, her voice soft but carrying, perhaps even magically so.

Our Grey Lady, the Mother of our Souls; let thy holy grace be upon the departed. Preserve and keep them that they may stand before thee. Stave off the curse of undeath, that no man woman or child once dead should be disgraced.

Spoiler: K. Religion DC 25 (DC 12 if follower of Pharasma)

Show

Normally, the phrase "Protect the dead from those living that would despoil them." would be included here, but Sebti omits it.

Protect the living from those dead that would have them enter the grave prematurely. We trust our fate to thee, Our Lady of Graves.

Sebti returns to her feet and survey's the crowd. Over the course of 30 years, Shefru and his followers gave thousands of bodies in varying states of death and undeath the proper burial rites that had been denied them for hundreds of years, granting them at long last safe passage through the boneyard. His work finally culminated in the building of these very walls you see now: she points towards the sandstone walls of the necropolis.

These dead have slept peacefully 1,700 years. However, the Ruby Prince has decreed that the time has come for their treasures to be returned to the living. That is where you adventurers come in; you have come to bring back these treasures. And you do so with the Grey Lady's blessing, so long as you abide by three rules she has set, and you were made well aware of when you registered:

1) Remember How This Came to Pass

Spoiler: Info

Show

The Plague that plunged Wati into undeath occurred 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 con ict and banditry are not only criminals, but accursed.

2) Every Slave's Hut Is a Memorial

Spoiler: Info

Show

Every structure within the necropolis is a testament to the people who lived and died in the city. Explorers must not desecrate or vandalize standing structures and tombs, but preserve them as the memorials they were intended to be. Some structures may be trapped or decrepit, but willful and unnecessary destruction will not be tolerated.

3) Honor the Departed

Spoiler: Info

Show

The dead should be treated with dignity and respect. If the interred need to be disturbed to recover an antiquity or relic, they should be returned to their resting places carefully. It is understood that the ancient dead are often brittle, but there is no need for the contents of a sarcophagus to be summarily dumped on the ground. This rule does not apply to the undead or other abominations.

She pauses for a moment to make sure everyone got the message, then lifts her hands skyward.

Let the lottery begin! Although many of you have requested specific sites to explore, we must leave these matters to fate. The Lady of Graves is a far better judge of destiny than we of this mortal sphere. The gates of the necropolis will open at sunrise tomorrow. Use this evening to prepare yourselves for the task ahead.

Sebti the Crocodile sits down, and her two attendants step forward towards the urns. One of them pulls out a slip of paper and reads off the name of a group, while the other pulls out a map and instructions on how to find the site.

CHUNDREN's CHAMPIONS! a greasy man with an angled face and a holy symbol around his neck steps forward, receives some instruction from Sebti, and retrieves the papers.

THE DOG SOLDIERS! there's a yowl as a halfling riding a dog gallops up the stage and retrieves his group's papers after briefly conversing.

THE SCORCHED HAND! a woman wearing a Taldoran clothing, complete with a purple leather hat set with a massive feather strides up and with a bow retrieves her group's papers.

THE SAPPHIRE SPHINXES! the acolyte calls out.

[MesiDoomstalker]

Anai squeaked, jumped, lurched forward and smiled like a maniac all simultaneously. She bounded up the stops, barely containing her giddy energy and practically skipped towards the acolyte. She thrust out her hand as she proudly proclaimed "Anai Nahas, Ministry of Culture Wati Exploration Team; Sapphire Sphinxes here! She beamed a bright, winning smile.

[NikolaTesla]

The Ministry of Culture? Sebti shrugs.

The acolyte hands you the paper with your groups name on it, and you notice that it's set with a hieroglyphic image of a Sphinx printed into a thin layer of silver, about twice the weight of a silver piece. Make sure you bring that back when you're ready for your next assignment in the necropolis. Assuming you survive. he says smiling altogether too cheerfully.

Oh yes please do survive! chimes in the other acolyte, handing you a roughly drawn map of the necropolis marked with an indicative 'X'. If memory serves, your location is one of the few actual tombs in the necropolis, and we'd love to learn more about whoever it is that was buried there. I'm sure you understand, being from the ministry of culture and all. Good luck!

[Kagari1605]

Grabbing the bridge of her nose Ilepisys sighs muttering under her breath she's going to get us killed if she keeps this up in the tombs, realizing that she and the rest of the group were going to have to be keeping Anai in line and not rushing into things too quickly.

Ilepisys smiles and looks up onto the stage noticing the acolytes saying something to Anai but could not make out what they had said. She looked to Boru and made a motion with her head to signal that they should go meet up with Anai on the other side of the stage.

[digiman619]

Boru leaned in and whispered to Anai. "I know that you're excited, but calm down. You're making us look bad."

[MesiDoomstalker]

Anai's already beaming feature's brightened to brilliance. Her giddy, excited energy erupted into uncontrolled dance of joy and jubilation. She grabbed the paper marked with their name and the map and practically jumped for joy. REALLY!? Oh wow, I hoped but I didn't think we'd actually get a real tomb! Oh wait until Nasaab hears this. He- Anai continued to talk, to no one in particular as she left the stage and regrouped with her compatriots. She held out the map proudly for them to see. We got a tomb! She declared, unaware how silly that sounded out of context.

[NikolaTesla]

The acolytes look at each other, then continue calling names.

The Flickering Four!
The Sand Scorpions!...

In all there's a little over 3 dozen groups called, but the crowd remains for awhile after as many of the adventurers by some last minute gear or talismans based on what they can figure out about their site.

[SwordChucks]

Victoria struggled to get through the packed streets as she picked her way through excited tomb delvers. She would be excited too if it weren't for the desert sun making her question her choice to come to the region.

Hearing the adventuring groups being announced, Vic panics and hurries until she sees a group that matches the description she was given.
"Ack, sorry I'm late. I'm Vic, I've been assigned to the Sapphire Sphinxes. You needed an undead expert?"
She offers the hand not occupied by her quarterstaff and gives a warm smile from beneath her wide-brimmed hat.

[digiman619]

Boru shifted his spear into his shield arm and shook her hand in an almost detached manner. He'd leave the more official intro for Anai. "I thought they were sending us a Tengu."

[SwordChucks]

"They were, she was reassigned to another mission. If it makes it any better, she was my competition for valedictorian in university." she says a bit smugly.

[MesiDoomstalker]

Anai's genuine smile tightened ever so slightly as the newcomer introduced herself. She thrust her hand forward too rapidly and forcefully, introducing herself in an overly chipper tone. Anai Nahas; official Ministry of Culture representative and lead researcher on this expedition. You must be the foreign opp-er-specialist.

[NikolaTesla]

OOC Aside: Welcome back everyone! you're pretty much fine to do as you please until its's time to enter the crypt, so feel free to role-play as long or short as you like.

[Kagari1605]

Ilepy smiled at Anai before introduced herself to the newcomer. Welcome. I am Ilepisys. I will be hopefully handling any traps spotted out by excited leader.

Ilepisys looks at the group as the excitement built up in her to the point that she couldn't help but smile. She started to relax before she became keenly aware that her pack was slightly off weight. In her own head she started to go over her gear. That was when she realized that she forgot that her last set of thieve's tools had broken and she needed to get a new set.

I will be back. I forgot I need to go pick something up she said before slipping off into the crowds looking for the right merchant. Once she found the merchant, she purchased a set of Masterwork Thieve's Tools at the standard price, before returning to her group.

[SwordChucks]

"Hopefully I have everything I'll need." Vic says as she readjusts her bag. "This pack could snap a camel in half."

[NikolaTesla]

Obtaining some masterwork tools turns out to be a bit of a chore, as most of the merchants are advertising various tools of "the highest quality" but eventually Ilepisys comes up with a decent kit.

The day continues on and you're able to grab some lunch and explore the town a little bit. Dusk arrives, and you figure you had better find a place to rest before you enter the tombs tomorrow. The most popular spot for adventurers seems to be an inn called the Tooth & Hookah, despite their somewhat gouging prices of 1 gold scarab (Osirian name for gold piece) per bed per night, but several merchants have opened their homes as well in hopes of getting first crack at whatever treasure is brought back.

Where do you plan to spend the night?

[MesiDoomstalker]

It was no real question for Anai where they would stay. Tooth and Hookah may be preying on the opportunist, but she wouldn't impose on a local family no matter how insistent they maybe. Besides, she couldn't lead them to believe anything they acquired would be sold to their gracious host for the pleasure of their home. We shall seek rooms in the Tooth and Hookah for the night. Get some rest; we have an early day ahead of us. She strode forward into the establishment with a confident stride.

[NikolaTesla]

As you open the front door of the Tooth and Hookah a light smog spills out as the shaded room comes into view. 7 low tables with cushions on the floor around them occupy the middle of the room, with communal hookahs built into the centers of the tables. Along the edges of the walls sit veiled humanoid figures with small tables full of shiny trinkets, and in one case some old looking books. In the back right stands the bar and its scarred barkeep next to an indoor well. As you pick your way over to him you can almost feel the hawklike gaze of the people around the edges of the inn, but the patrons themselves pay you no heed; you even spot the dog-riding halfling from earlier.

The barkeep has a bored look on his face as you approach. "More tomb explorers I take it? Just sign in on there" he nods towards a roll of parchment where you see a list of beds, though it's clear that there are some hastily scribbled additions to normal list. "A mattress is 2 scarabs per night, or you can have a mat for 1. Each room has one mattress and 3 mats, and after midnight there'll be about 20 more mats down here in the common area. Make trouble or draw a weapon and you're out of here, no refunds ya hear?"

As you sign in he leans back and a smile crosses his scarred face."Name's Farhaan. Make sure you enjoy yourselves tonight; I've been to the necropolis and not everyone that went with me came back. You folks be careful, I'd prefer your continued patronage as opposed to having find your stuff lying around so you can be buried with it." he chortles a little.

OOC: Feel free to interact with Farhaan or anyone else in the Tooth and Hookah as you like, though I will continue on here so that we can get to the Tomb faster.

The night passes uneventfully, and a woman serves a communal breakfast of some sort of eggs the next morning (no charge, Farhaan and the woman figure a good meal in the morning means you're more likely to survive till that evening). You leave the Tooth and Hookah just as the sun fully crests over the horizon, blinding you when looking to the East, but being mercifully cool. You pick your way over to the main gate to the necropolis, where you meet two hooded priests of the Grand Mausoleum standing guard.

"Identification?"

[MesiDoomstalker]

Anai hastily scribbled her and her comrade's names down on the sheet before thanking the barkeep. She took some time to browse the various wares the apparent vendors had laid out along the edge of the space but decided against buying anything. She felt confident she had everything she needed for her task ahead.

After the hearty breakfast in the morning, Anai could not contain her excitement. It took several reminders that the whole of the city wasn't awake at this hour for her to keep her squeals at a bearable level. When identification was request, she thrust the token presented to them prior with vigor. Sapphire Spinxes are present and ready!

[SwordChucks]

Vic orders a glass of wine and presses Farhaan for information about the inn. She writes down what she learns in her journal.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

She's making a travel guide for her friends for when she gets back. Just little things like when the inn was opened, where the name Tooth and Hookah comes from, and if Farhaan is the owner.

Returning to her group Vic says "Are you all from here? I haven't been out of Varisia very often and never this far south."

[NikolaTesla]

The hooded priestess quickly examines the token, then hands it back. "Alright then. Please be careful, and also be respectful. We look forward to hearing what you learn about your site." She steps aside, and the heavy wrought iron gate swings inward. At long last, you're in the necropolis of Wati.

The instructions and map provided to you prove to be very well made, and you have no trouble making your way to the tomb: A rectangular stone mausoleum sits alone in what appears to have once been an actual cemetery. The trunks of a few dead trees poke out of the sand around the tomb, and a hot breeze whistles through their desiccated branches. A set of massive stone double doors is affixed to the northern side of the structure, beneath a cade bearing the likeness of an Osirian man. Windblown sand is heaped around the crypt, partially burying the doors that lead within.

The doors are 10 feet tall, made of solid stone, partially buried, and have no visible hinges or handles.

Spoiler: Speak Ancient Osiriani or DC 20 Linguistics for Modern Osiriani speakers

Show

Engraved in the doors is the name "Ahkentepi", along with a birthdate in AR 2416 and a death date in AR 2488.

Spoiler: DC 10 K. Engineering or DC 15 Perception

Show

There are concealed hinges and the doors swing outward. Telltale traces of mortar along the seam that has since crumbled away reveal that the doors were sealed and not meant to be opened again.

Spoiler: K. Engineering DC 15 or Perception DC 20 (same roll)

Show

You notice some chips in the stone along the seam. It appears that someone stuck a crowbar or a similar tool in there at some point.

[MesiDoomstalker]

Anai's giddy energy seemed to dissipate into awed reverence as they found the tomb within the dead necropolis. She would be the first to expound on the eerie feeling of the necropolis, especially compared to Sothis' bustling city streets. Slowly, she approached the door, running fingers along the surface slowly, feeling the well worn stone. It sent chills down her spine. A small smile crept across her face as she read the inscription outloud. Ahkentepi. Born AR 2416. Dead AR 2488. She paused at the door's seam. The doors used to be sealed. No doubt they didn't want it opened ever. She let out a small, defeated sigh. The doors swing outwards. Unfortunately. The sand will block our entrance. With another resigned sigh, Anai started moving sand to open the way to the tomb.

[digiman619]

Boru had spent most of the previous night in prayer and meditation. He still wasn't full comfortable with entering a tomb like this, so he prayed to Pharasma for forgiveness. While she didn't answer directly (he had no mystical connection to the goddess, unlike his cousin Kara who was one of her clerics. She mentioned this many, many times.), it did ease his troubles quite a bit before sleep took him.

Now, however, he stands in front of the entrance to the tomb with Anai, dragged into another 'adventure' by the impulsive half-orc. Looked like there was a need for manual labor, so he supposed that since the ladies would no doubt task him with doing it anyway, he might as well get started rather than cause a commotion. He unhooked his shield and began using it as a makeshift shovel to clear the doorway.

[Kagari1605]

Ilepsis spent the previous night going pouring over her spell book, preparing to delve into the tomb. She was still slightly worried that Anai would get too excited and run into a trap she hadn’t seen, but eventually let that feeling go and decided to enjoy the prospect of what could be uncovered inside the tomb. She eventually laid down and feel asleep after inspecting the tools she had bought earlier that day and made sure that her sword was sharp and ready to go.

In contrast to the night before, she stood next to Anai, her hand on her friend’s shoulder hoping that at some level Anai had enough self-control not to go sprinting into the tomb out of excitement. Ilepy, wasn’t quite sure what to expect when the tomb door opens up, but she prepared her other hand on the hilt of her sword. While she wasn’t sure how to feel about letting Victoria into the tomb, but they needed her expertise. Her attention was quickly directed to the sand at the tomb’s door. In which she started helping to dig the door out.

[SwordChucks]

Victoria stood in awe of the massive stone construction. She hurriedly sketches a replica into her journal for posterity's sake.

Seeing the others scooping away sand, she joins in eager to enter the building.

[NikolaTesla]

The four of you dig away at the sand, grateful that the desert sun is still low on the horizon as you begin. There's a lot of sand though, and by the time you finish the better part of an hour has gone by and the temperature has risen quite a bit. Finally, the unobstructed doors stand before you, and while you're pretty sure they can swing open, there doesn't seem to be any obvious way to get them to do so: there's still no handles, and there's hardly any space to grip in the seam.

Spoiler: Door Stats

Show

Hardness 8
HP 60
Break DC 28

Opening require a DC 25 strength check, though certain tools may lower that number.

Spoiler: GM stuff

Show

(1d100)[47]