Nightmare in Katapesh IC

[DrK]

Sadar

Having trailed the others sword in hand, and skin still itching slightly from where the spiders had savaged him the day before he'd been quiet. Cowed slightly by the tomb all around him. At the creature sitting up he made ready with the sword but then stood silently, looking to his allies, "What manner creature is that?" he asks the others hoping one can recall more than he does.

[SanguinePenguin]

Kheti translates, and the creature responds in turn. “Gods have died… tell me, does Isis still live? Empires have died… does Osirion endure?

“The process comes with rules enacted at that time: I cannot leave this room unless my existence is threatened or the chamber is opened through other means; I must kill any who enter with the key, touch the lock, or attempt to open the chamber directly; I cannot destroy myself in whole or in part - there are others too, but they do not come up so I do not remember them.

“The final resting place of the Great Archvizier Khur Dhahab is what this key unlocks.

“The other doors should contain the other two locks, same key, and guardians appointed by the other gods.”

Spoiler: Gurmok

Show

At Sadar’s question, Gurmok thinks about what he is witnessing. Although Gurmok has no idea what this creature is exactly, he is fairly confident that it is both undead and not inherently evil. Non-evil undead are quite rare, but they can happen.

[farothel]

"So, we're not allowed further," Dalnu asked, "is there some horror beyond the door that shouldn't be unearthed? And do you know what the other guardians look like?"

[SanguinePenguin]

He shakes his head, “the dead should be protected always, and for the most honored and sacred dead, protection is mandated by the gods. Pharaohs and their families, Viziers, High Priests and Priestesses, Generals, Governors - all deserve the greatest security the living can provide. I do not know who serve the other gods as guardians of the sacred dead. The Vapors of Isis are high magic and I was made a sword sovereign at twenty, so all of you will die if you try to open the lock.” After a pause he adds, “if you see them and describe them to me, I may be able to tell you what they are.”

[farothel]

"Well, I guess that explain a lot," Dalnu said, "let's head back, shall we?"
As soon as they were back in the central room and the door was closed, she turned to the others.
"So, what now? We're likely to get something like that in every room, right? Check them all out to see which one is the easiest to take down, or which one we can make a deal with?"

[Prehysterical]

"That sounds reasonable," Mauricio responds. "For being undead, that fellow seemed very reasonable. I don't know if it is possible to 'murder' an undead, but he is only here defending his home. Let us explore all avenues before committing ourselves to violence."

Spoiler

Show

Mauricio Averni
HP: 35/35
AC: 18
Class DC: 19
Speed: 25
Fort: +6
Ref: +8
Will: +9
Perception: +9
Feats: Forensic Acumen, That's Odd, Battle Medicine, Ward Medic, Keen Recollection, Continual Recovery, Doctor's Visitation

[SanguinePenguin]

Kheti makes an awkward farewell and the party shuts the door on the undead creature, returning it to darkness again. After some debate, they decide to try the door associated with Set, in no small part because they won’t have to roll a massive stone pillar (suffering from a bout of horizontality) out of the way. Weapons drawn and prepared for the worst, the door is opened.

The room is considerably smaller than the one you just departed, the far wall is only 30’ away, and the room expands to only 25’, but it seems to be following an identical grade. The room has a thin layer of dust, but it is mostly bare, except for the room’s most prominent feature: seven glass jars situated on the tips of a strangely curved septagram deeply carved into the stone floor. Intricate hieroglyphs are carved all along the edges of the star. In the very center of the septagram, there is a large faintly glowing blade thrust into the stone. All is silent. In the center of the far wall you can see another large keyhole identical to the one the undead creature pointed out in the previous room.

[Gwynfrid]

"It seems to me that there are great dangers linked to opening these doors", Gurmok remarks. "The other one had an undead guardian, who was clear what it would do to trespassers, even as that was explained in a most polite way. This one smells trap to me! What's in these jars? We should know, before we try opening anything..."

Spoiler

Show

Can he figure out any significance of the septagram and the jars in connection to Set? (Religion +8)?