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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 7, 2023 10:00:09 GMT -6
N'Rasa checked to see if any of the decorative carvings were moving parts.
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 7, 2023 10:27:10 GMT -6
Mohammad will stay near the entrance of the room and standing a little sideways keeping an eye in case the apes followed our group.
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 7, 2023 19:33:09 GMT -6
"Perhaps," suggests Mi'kimu, "we need but push the doors open? Unless N'Rasa wishes to try magic again?"
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 8, 2023 18:01:47 GMT -6
N'Rasa urged the others to wait until she had checked for moving parts first before anyone went pushing on the doors.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 8, 2023 22:07:55 GMT -6
Upon inspection, N'rasa detects no moving parts on the ornamentations which surround the doors.
She does detect that the doors are meant to swing outward, towards the party, not inward towards the grave.
Vortumoi rummages in his robes and pulls forth a scroll.
VORTUMOI: "Here is the fragment of Be'jordi's poetry from the archives. I don't know what it means, but I do recall the archives speaking of some Guardian within the tomb.
Perhaps the Guardian is just beyond these doors. This spider carving may symbolize the Guardian...some demons do take spider shape, according to the demonology of my Temple.
The archives speak of a means of placating the Guardian, and I have long believed some clue lies in Be'jordi's verse, but demons devour me if I know the answer.
Here, have a look at the verse again."
The verse:
"Time to beauty's cheek brings dust The safest tomb will fall to mold Time to the warrior's iron brings rust Even sun-fires turn cold!
Only the undying mind holds sure The Truth, once held, forever pure!"
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Post by xerxez on Jul 8, 2023 22:11:12 GMT -6
Mohammad will stay near the entrance of the room and standing a little sideways keeping an eye in case the apes followed our group. Mohammad listens intently ...the priest discerns that the apes have fled the ruin.
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 9, 2023 19:41:52 GMT -6
"The safest tomb will fall to mold ... so much is true," observes Mi'kimu, turning away from the ruined west wall.
"Hmm ... but what is 'Truth'?" he ponders. "Perhaps one finds it on that scroll?" he adds, gesturing towards the image on the east wall.
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 9, 2023 20:56:17 GMT -6
N'Rasa added, "And what is an undying mind...?" She moved closer to the image of the scroll on the wall to see if maybe there was some tiny writing on it.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 9, 2023 21:27:25 GMT -6
N'Rasa added, "And what is an undying mind...?" She moved closer to the image of the scroll on the wall to see if maybe there was some tiny writing on it. The scroll upon the wall holds no writing and appears to be only a depiction of a scroll. (Good idea though guys, saving that one!)
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 10, 2023 9:41:55 GMT -6
Mohammad says, " well I heard the apes leaving the chamber above. any way to find any handholds that were caked over with dust and mold on the doors or do the symbols move like a puzzle."
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Post by xerxez on Jul 10, 2023 19:30:12 GMT -6
Mohammad says, " well I heard the apes leaving the chamber above. any way to find any handholds that were caked over with dust and mold on the doors or do the symbols move like a puzzle." (What exactly does Mohammad do, ie, interactions with the door...i.e., is he inspecting it only or trying to move anything on the surface physically?
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Post by xerxez on Jul 10, 2023 20:03:27 GMT -6
N'Rasa added, "And what is an undying mind...?" She moved closer to the image of the scroll on the wall to see if maybe there was some tiny writing on it. VORTUMOI: "All doctrines in both Stability and Change Temples hold that the mind survives the death of the body. The horrid doctrines of Sarku's cult seek to forever bind the mind to the decaying flesh of the weak and lowly psychical existence, and thus they attempt to preserve the flesh beyond natural span. Other Temples teach that the trauma of death causes a temporary fragmentation of the undying mind and a forgetting time...it is believed by such devotees that the mind reforms in time, aided by certain memories of its former life such as goods buried with the dead, and spells, incantations and passwords learned in life which...in the Underworld...can be used to pass fearsome guardians which guard the way to immortality against the uninitiated and the unworthy. Of course, the Stability Temples hold that some vaunted boatman will carry the souls of the Stability fools to some eternal Paradise. Bejordi was a worshipper of the doomed Prince- he no doubt believed that the Mind, unshackled by its release of the mortal form, dwells within its earlier ascertainment of the Eternal Truth and creates new worlds in which it is Master and God, taking any form it chooses in other dimensions...not unlike my own Temple, though we vary at certain theological intersections. Bejordi undoubtedly believed that he would die with this revelation of Eternal Truth, and was likely vain enough to believe it resided within his poetry."
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 11, 2023 9:42:57 GMT -6
Mohammad moves to the door and tries to dust it off and looks for openings or handhelds. Yes he is touching the door after saying a prayer to his goddess for luck
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Post by xerxez on Jul 11, 2023 21:05:37 GMT -6
Mohammad moves to the door and tries to dust it off and looks for openings or handhelds. Yes he is touching the door after saying a prayer to his goddess for luck The priest finds no handholds or openings, the doors appear all carved stonework -- however as his hands stray near the outlines of the spider Mohammad feels a shock of magical energy and the spider glows briefly for a moment, a deep red glow...the glow fades as quickly as he pulls his hand back, and he feels a sense of some great evil residing here. He also feels in his soul as if an invisible hand reached for him and missed...
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 11, 2023 21:49:43 GMT -6
Unaware that Mohammad had been shocked, N'Rasa said, "It seems we cannot pass these doors without solving an unsolvable riddle. But perhaps we can go around...?" She leaned out through the hole in the wall and checked for any exits that way.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 12, 2023 7:10:16 GMT -6
Unaware that Mohammad had been shocked, N'Rasa said, "It seems we cannot pass these doors without solving an unsolvable riddle. But perhaps we can go around...?" She leaned out through the hole in the wall and checked for any exits that way. N'Rasa looks through the gap but only sees cavern walls to her left and right, the northern wall on her right being mostly in alignment with the door wall. She sees no way to bypass the door in the 30' visible in the torchlight. For a brief second though, she thinks she may have seen a shadow move in the murky darkness across the lake, After the spider shape began to glow, though, Vortumoi shows sudden concern. VORTUMOI: "This is no normal door and that spider is no mere carving...some ancient sorcery works here and my memory is stirred. There is something not of this plane which is present! I felt it when the crimson light radiated from the stone. There is a spell which may be of use here, and I must cast it. But it will weaken me-- it is the spell of Seeing Other Planes. It will make some sense of this riddle but I will be unable to use any magic afterward for a time. Everyone, keep silent for a moment, and be still." The dark priest then sits lotus style and hangs his head. His face is downward as he begins a low chant--a moment later he looks up, but his eyes have become piercing white slits of light! He lifts his head and gazes at the door. A brief horrified expression appears on his face. His eyes return to normal and he rises. VORTUMOI: "We need look no further for the Outer Guardian spoken of in the archives- we stand in the presence of a powerful demon, bound for these centuries in the stone carving. The demon is in the service of Qu'u, Black Master of the 45th Plane, and some Bednalljan priest trapped it here when Bejordi's tomb was constructed. You are fortunate, Mohammad. Qon must have protected you for to touch the door can connect one to the plane of the Demon. And I have also seen the answer, which I now feel I might have better guessed at-- we have but to recite the verse of Bejordi'd poem directly to the Guardian for it to permit us passage." He does so, and the entire door begins to glow with radiant crimson energy. Then, the doors move open of their own accord, revealing a darkened chamber beyond. The dust and must of ages past rolls out at you all and you realize you have opened a door likely unopened since the Poet Prince was interred. Karunaz readies his weapon. KARUNAZ: "I suggest someone waits just outside here for the moment...I would have a watcher here while the rest of us examine the room beyond." GM Note: Apologies-- Ive run this adventure twice before and once a party guessed the means of passage and the second time around I had some very intelligent players but they never did. It's not really very obvious.
I will say when dtspurrier's priest touched the door 3d6 were rolled and he was fortunate as I rolled low-- in the written adventure a high roll could have ended in either temporary catatonia for a time or death after a visit to the 45th Plane!
I will update with an image and the next room after work today.
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 12, 2023 8:35:46 GMT -6
Mohammad is glad his soul was not captured and left like a bad state.
Mohammad now waits for the poem to be recited
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 12, 2023 13:30:26 GMT -6
"Your suggestion makes sense, Vortumoi," N'Rasa said, "in case the doors shut and the verse must be recited again." To the watcher she added, "Do you have the verse memorized? You can make no mistake..."
((N'Rasa might have volunteered to stay behind, but meta-gaming-wise, it makes sense for whoever has been posting the least to remain behind as the watcher.))
N'Rasa went in, but blanched from going in first...
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Post by makofan on Jul 12, 2023 17:01:37 GMT -6
Balesh is the best warrior here, so he is content to serve where it is thougt best - left behind, or exploring, it is one to him
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Post by xerxez on Jul 12, 2023 22:06:06 GMT -6
With the doors open, your torch light spills into the chamber beyond.
Partially illumined it reveals itself as a 40' X 40' room.
Briefly you can see that the western wall here has undergone the same erosion and decay as in the room you are in.
In the center of the room you see what looks in your feeble torch light like a giant black table with a shadowy figure lying upon it.
You think you see four statues of warriors standing around the table.
As your eyes adjust, you realize the black table is a huge wooden coffin with a reclining figure carved upon the lid-- it shines in your light, resplendent even now under black lacquered finish it was painted and sealed with long ago.
You realize with a start that the figures around the coffin are no statues...they raise their heads and move from a position of vigil over the coffin to face you, but they make no move to attack you...for the moment.
They seem to study you intently, and something seems off about them and their movement. It is now that you realize that their eyes hold a strange pale blue light...
You can see them only dimly in the gloom of Bejordi's resting place...for such you recognize this place as immediately.
In the four corners of the room you can make out large brass braziers carved ornately with strange figures posed as if supporting the bowls-- they are, of course, unlit.
What do you do?
GM Note: Opposed d6 rolls for surprise, neither party surprised. Below is the updated map.
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 13, 2023 11:25:18 GMT -6
Mohammad steps forward and parlays, " greeting tomb guardians. We only seek passage through the tomb. We are not going to disturb the coffin or any belongings that you protect. " Mohammad has his holy symbol visible out and hopes his charisma and his priestly symbol leads to positive results.
( ooc: he also sees if he can recognize these creatures and also is there a custom such as offering something as a peace offering to help the situation)
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 13, 2023 18:53:54 GMT -6
N'Rasa followed Mohammad in with the torch. She saw the water through the gaps in the wall and grimaced - they could have swam around after all??
But what really surprised her was Mohammad's bold-faced lie to the tomb guardians. She shrank back two steps, wondering what their reaction would be...
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 13, 2023 21:00:39 GMT -6
Mi'kimu and Fi'ru will hang back and guard the party's rear flank.
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Post by makofan on Jul 14, 2023 6:12:21 GMT -6
Balesh will follow to protect N'Rasa and Mohammad
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Post by xerxez on Jul 14, 2023 7:39:10 GMT -6
N'Rasa followed Mohammad in with the torch. She saw the water through the gaps in the wall and grimaced - they could have swam around after all?? But what really surprised her was Mohammad's bold-faced lie to the tomb guardians. She shrank back two steps, wondering what their reaction would be... GM Note: I may not have drawn it or explained it clearly enough but there is actually a natural cave wall that would not permit you to swim over anywhere near the rooms...it is of course the same body of water but there appear to be at least two or perhaps even several natural partitions constituting the reservoir.
Further out in the water there may be an egress connecting the caverns but you would have had to swim out quite far to find out.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 14, 2023 8:01:28 GMT -6
Mohammad steps forward and parlays, " greeting tomb guardians. We only seek passage through the tomb. We are not going to disturb the coffin or any belongings that you protect. " Mohammad has his holy symbol visible out and hopes his charisma and his priestly symbol leads to positive results. ( ooc: he also sees if he can recognize these creatures and also is there a custom such as offering something as a peace offering to help the situation) As you pass the threshold you enter a chamber of sparse furnishings, the coffin and the braziers being its only contents. Your skin crawls a soon as your torchlight more clearly illumines the four sentinels-- they are M'rur....the Undead. Their physical forms resembled carefully mummified corpses with decaying gray skin...their armor is old bronze in the style of the dawn of the first Imperium, as are their weapons. One of them speaks in a ghastly voice as if through a withered and rotten throat. M'RUR: "Vissssitorsss...come to pay respectssss to the Prince? Enter and bow....bowwww...."
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Post by xerxez on Jul 14, 2023 8:38:05 GMT -6
MI'KIMU & BALESH: As you watch the encounter unfold with the M'rur, Balesh happens to glance out at the lake...his eyes grow wide. Something is emerging from the darkness across the first lake cavern. He taps Mi'kimu roughly on his arm-- both look out to see a colony of weird membranous, semi transparent spherical masses floating about 8' above the water, trailing long searching rope like tentacles that dance and waver beneath them. Each has a huge, unblinking single eye in the center of it's "head".... You can make out at least six of the large spheroid creatures--their movement is slow, like a bubble floating on the air...but there is no doubt that they are looking at you and heading towards the chamber. Karunaz sees you looking and has a look himself. KARUNAZ: "The Shadow Gods laugh at me this day....Ka'yi. The Floating Eye...one may die in an instant at their touch. They must have heard or sensed us from a distance and come to see what fly lands in this old spider net. We cannot fight so many!"
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 14, 2023 8:50:22 GMT -6
Mohammad says slowly walking back to the undead guardians, " I will give you the proper respect soon but right now there are enemy creatures entering your chamber. If we stay and deal with these creatures and decide to enter your lord's chamber then we will offer the proper respect. For now I am going to withdraw back to the room." . As Mohammad does he will still bow as a sign of respect.
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 14, 2023 20:24:49 GMT -6
N'Rasa was not about to let the undead guardians get riled up at them, so she bowed at once when Mohammad refused to.
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 14, 2023 22:03:09 GMT -6
"Ah," mutters Mi'kimu.
Perhaps we have some lamp oil we can dump in the break(s) in the wall and set alight — maybe that would deter these Floating Eyes, at least for a while.
"Karunaz, Bálesh, what do you think? Else, we might be better off taking our chances with these undead warriors and closing the doors behind us! Although, I suppose they might simply follow us into the tomb by other breaches in the wall ..."
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