C2 Session 5: The Scorched Hand Report
General Summary
13th of Haelynir 1545 continued
For the afternoon Ana will buy healing potions and Brin will relax for the afternoon. Meanwhile Margaret and Jamal will head to see Aunty.
The pair go back to the Insula Mater and meet with Anjet Jehuti who is known as Aunty. They discuss the Sunrise Fellows and their patron who seems to be very suspect. Aunty tells them the store is a front for the sale of the drug Mumia by the gang known as The Fading. They make, traffic and sell the drug, which is disrespectful to the dead and dangerous to the living. The three of the four members go by the gang names Date Palm, Oshwyt and Worm are just after the money. Bheg however is in far deeper with the gang and is responsible for dragging the other three into this line of business.
Aunty makes a request that if the group comes across the Sunrise Fellows in their illegal acts to turn them in rather then face the death the dangerous life puts them at risk of. Mumia has a risk of causing someone who takes it to turn into a ghoul. She would prefer they be behind cars to being killed by the undead or one of their clients turning due to the drug. The Khirdai priests kind of care about this crime. They have bigger concerns but it does disrupt the city life at time when someone randomly becomes a ghoul in town.
Aunty gives the pair the addresses for the Sunrise Fellows. Margaret asks about what Aunty thinks the Khirdai priests really want with the necropolis. Aunty believes getting items for the war is part of it but they likely have other motives. Adara was born in Shoufal and it is by her grace that much of the city's culture has been respected since the Khirdai priests took over. The Insula Mater have clerics on staff if the group is in need if the Khirdai priests of the Hall of Blessed Rebirth are busy with patrolling the necropolis during the lottery. Afterwards the pair head back to the inn.
In the evening, Margaret catches up with Brin and the rest of the group. She wants to find out if he knows about Mumia or the Fading, which he hasn't. Margaret shares what Mumia is and what it can do. Afterwards Brin heads to training while the others relax for the evening. Later that night Brin wins his fight, but doesn't exactly do great. The Four Lanterns are not at the fight that night.
14th of Haelynir 1545
Brin arrives back safely at the inn to get some rest while Ana and Margaret head to the Hall of Blessed Rebirth. They meet with Rahanntyl and after some small talk go about ritually casting Divination. Rahanntyl sets up their ritual with incense, a carved wooden symbol, and a very small blue gem in the centre of the table.
Margaret asks: "What the new course of the city may be after the betrayal on the night of the full moon?"
Divination: "Beneath the moon's shadow as it wanes, a sea of whispers shall rise. A theft unveils death's shroud, awakening the tide. Seek unity's light to quell the tempest's wrath, for betrayal's echo births an army of the fallen."
Rahanntyl trails off and silently panicking before excusing themselves and leaving the room. The girls follow the dragonborn after Margaret subtly detects thoughts to learn that they are worried the fallen army could be devils, naughty angels or just a bunch of clumsy people. They end up with Mistress Everhand. They explain the situation to her as she invites them inside. They plan to do more divinations to try and learn more in the coming days. Afterwards they head back to the inn.
In the afternoon, the group meets up at lunch to talk. Brin mentions the Four Lanterns turning up to watch the fights in the fighting pits. Meanwhile Margaret brings up what they learned this morning. Jamal is relieved to hear Mistress Everhand knows since his contact in Unbrau reassures him she is not only trustworthy, but someone you can rely on. When they conclude lunch, they head their separate ways.
- Jamal goes to look into properties for the guild.
- Ubek and Margaret goes shopping.
- Brin goes to touch case with the Four Lanterns
- Ana heads to the bathhouse.
Sadly Margaret and Ubek don't have much luck with at the market, so Ubek treats Margaret to shaved ice and syrup.
Brin goes to Terkh's and finds the Four Lanterns. He sits and chats with them, curious about them being at the fighting pits. They just wanted to gamble and have a fun night out. Brin asks them to keep an eye out for Mumia and explains to them what it does. He doesn't want them to get involved, just let him know if they hear or see anything about it and the Gang pushing it called The Fading. Afterwards Brin heads to training.
When Ana gets back from the bathhouse in the evening she meets up with Margaret. They enjoy a quiet night in for dinner as they listen for new rumours. Tonight there is a lot of talk about the different groups and how they went from eleven teams in the first round to ten in the second. They wonder if there will be even less in the next drawing for the lottery later on the in the next few days. They head to bed without any issues.
At training Brin put out word he's interested in bodyguard work after the lottery. They take note. Sadly that night his fight doesn't go well.
15th of Haelynir 1545
Brin arrives back safely in the morning. Ana, Margaret and Jamal head to the Hall of Blessed Rebirth. They meet Rahanntyl and Mistress Everhand in her backroom. Ana sits down and starts cleaning her nails with her dagger. A threatening action from a not-so-threatening-looking gal. Everyone else sits down normally and they get to the divinations.
Margaret asks: "Who will be betrayed, leading to the rise of the fallen on the night of the full moon?"
Divination: "In shadows' dance, the Scorched Hand shall play its pawns, leading astray those unaware, while the noble son's clandestine hand claims the coveted hidden artefact, stirring the slumbering tide of the fallen."
They discuss the element of the Noble son. Mistress Everhand confirms no local nobles have sons in the lottery, though there are many of those sons in town. Some are merchants that rank similar to a noble in wealth and we have many nobles that come and go with the seasons. Holiday homes and the like.
Next they consider if the Scorched Hand are the pawns or if they have pawns. They all agree it's not very clear. They agree to come back tomorrow before the drawing and to set up watch for the Scorched Hand to try and monitor them the best they can before the first time they enter the necropolis for this next assignment. They would just keep someone in the common room.
When they're done, Margaret pays for the divinations and Ana does some deals with the alchemist. Then they head back to the inn.
Over lunch the group fills Brin in on what they learned the plan moving forward. They do discuss a few risky plans instead of just watching but decide to stick with the original plan. Brin will take the first watch until someone returns to take him over while most of the group goes out shopping and Jamal heads out by himself.
The shopping group manages to get access to the blackmarket today. Ubek and Ana loan Margaret 1600 gold each so Margaret can buy a Bloodwell Vial +1. They then get some flavoured ice as Margaret treats them as thanks for the loan. They head back to find Brin no longer in the common area. Ubek takes his shift early to cover for Brin. Margaret heads upstairs to attune to her new item.
The Scorched Hand come down to have lunch while Brin stealthily keeps an eye on them. When they finish the girls head upstairs while the two Khinasi men get a hookah to share afterwards on the pillows. Brin approaches the men and strikes up a conversation with them. Brin learns:
- Their names are Khelru and Azaz.
- The older of the pair, Khelru, is reservered and polite.
- Azaz, the younger of the pair, is more energetic and full of praise for Khelru.
- Khelru is from Ber Falia and Azaz is from Ariya.
- Velriana is from Anuire, though Khelru reprimes Azaz for sharing something that isn't his business.
- The girls are not into the Hookah either from personal preference or due to not seeing it as worth their time. Khelru sees it as a waste of time as well, but does it with Azaz indulge the younger man.
- Khelru doesn't think much of the Khirdai priests.
- The group is hoping to get the old temple of Vorynn's in the lottery. They have petitioned for the location but without luck so far. It is called the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye.
- Khelru is a followed of Ruornil and feels it is his right to have access to location.
When they finish talking, not wanting to be suspicious Brin heads upstairs to kill time in his room until training. After training Brin loses another fight, but it was a really tough match.
Ana heads out to try and talk to a contact she has at the city. She's a Shifter (Cliffwalker), a mountain goat humanoid, named Ilessi Palmirian. She has a fae presence to her. Ana arranges for Ilessi to follow the Scorched Hand, but won't need to do follow them into the Necropolis. Instead maybe just watch the gate for them coming and going. They arrange for a note to be left for Ana if Ilessi discovers something important and a meet up location. The rate is 5 gold a day with extra charges if anything dangerous happens. Then she heads back to the inn.
Margaret takes over for Ubek at 8pm. He reports they came down for dinner but then went back upstairs afterwards. The two men stayed for half an hour to share a hookah. Nothing happens before Jamal takes her over at midnight.
16th of Haelynir 1545
Brin returns safely to the inn. Ana takes over Jamal for watch duty. Jamal and Margaret head to the Hall of Blessed Rebirth.
Margaret and Jamal arrive at the Hall of Blessed Rebirth and meet Mistress Everhand and Rahanntyl. Margaret is conflicted as she has two questions in mind. To help, Mistress Everhand and Rahanntyl agree to ask the second question tomorrow while the group in the Necropolis.
Margaret's Question: "What is the hidden artefact whose claiming will stir the fallen?"
Divination: "The elusive artefact, concealed in history's crypt, the plague of madness, killing the secret keepers and it's whereabouts lost to the sands of time. Forgotten Pharaoh in the Reliquary of the Thrice-Divided Soul. This is one part, his Ka."
They discuss this cryptic message. Jamal is lost in thought. He had something, but it slipped away. Like he was on the verge of remembering something.
Margaret's Question for tomorrow: "What are the other two parts of the Forgotten Pharaoh's soul?"
The pair head back to get the others before the drawing.
Ana watches as the Scorched Hand come down in the morning for breakfast. They talk quietly at their table. Their leader looks confident. One of the men seems anxious while the other is attempting the soothe him. The other woman looks unfazed by it all and is focused on breakfast. Afterwards they head back upstairs.
Just before its time to leave for the lottery, Margaret and Jamal return to the inn. Everyone shares various things they have learned since they last spoke to one another. Afterwards they head off to the lottery drawing.
They arrive at the lottery. Brin greets the Four Lanterns when he sees them. Margaret gets a seat up close to do some thought reading. The High priestess Sebti gets up to address the crowd.
"It is the final round and The Challenge of Shaene is upon us. On the 18th everyone should take up a challenge. Not just our brave adventurers. They will just exhibit Khirdai's domain of challenge at it's highest level. For now let us call up our nine groups to take on their final assignment and hopefully we will see them all at the auction after great success."
Ana shows off her invisible mage hand to take the assignment and holds it out in front of her as she curtsies to the high priestess and walks back to the group. She waves to the crowd as she walks back.
As the group are called up, Margaret is listening to the High Priestess' thoughts.
- Adventurer's Forged: "Not sure what the other priests are complaining about, this group is doing well."
- Amethyst Dragons: "Hopefully they listen to the warnings given and stay in their lane this time round."
- Chundren Champion's: "Looks like picking up one of the Sand Scorpions really helped their outcomes last round."
- Cryptfinders: "Hopefully these idiots leave soon after the event. They give me such a headache."
Margaret shifts her attention to the people coming up to accept the assignments.
- Daughters of Desert: "Bring on another noble estate."
- Flickering Four: "Please be easy and small."
- The Four Lanterns: "Ko-ko-ko-ko-ko. Hope Brin is watching"
- Scorched Hand: "Doesn't really matter what's on this stupid paper. Just smile and get this over with."
After the ceremony Margaret tries to keep an eye on the Scorched Hand but gets distracted by food. Brin goes to see the Four Lanterns and learns they got a noble estate. Ana looks at the paper to see they got the Windard Wend Oils Company. Not long later they head back to the inn.
When they arrive back Ana stays downstairs to take her watch and gets a note from Farhaad. She learns from the note that the Scorched Hand leader burned their slip and showed a different one to the group. Margaret stays downstairs with Ana while Brin, Jamal, Ubek heads upstairs. After sorting out Luna to watch they door they all head upstairs to talk.
Margaret has Luna watch the door to the inn and will head up as well. There they discuss what they all know so far. The Scorched Hand isn't going to their assignment and the leader showed the group a fake slip after having burnt the original. They brain storm a few ideas about how to approach this.
- Obadi is not actually a Khirdai priest and is working for Mistress Everhand. However Mistress Everhand would be their best route to getting an audience with the High Priestess without giving Obadi away.
- Margaret wants to go and try to send Adara a message in her tower. Ubek will go with her.
- Brin will try and discuss it with Azaz and Khelru to try and learn what the mission is that they have been told.
- Ana will go meet with her contact about this.
The group separates to do this.
Brin heads downstairs to have wine and food as he waits to see if the Scorched hand come downstairs.
Ana heads out to make for the bath house when Shithead the Cardinal flies off. Ana, curious as it has never left before, follows it. It takes her down a side alley where Ilessi is waiting with bird seed and a special whistle. They discuss what Ilessi saw. No one detail given aside from what was on the note. Ilessi will continue to watch the group for now. Though afterwards if things go South, she might disappear into the desert to wait this possible problem out given what Ana has told her about the Divinations. She offers to be a guild if Ana wants to hire someone to guide her in the desert.
Afterwards she heads back to the inn. There she goes and sits with Brin at the bar. There they discuss what Brin knows of Scorched Hand from talking with Azaz and Khelru the day before. They also discuss the whole situation. Brin will warn Mahga tonight about the possible issue. They continue to plan while waiting to hear.
Margaret and Ubek head near the Shire, in the North of city. Margaret uses her magic to given the ability to breath in the water. They use the water to sneak around to North of the estate that Adara owns and her tower resides on. Ubek is left alone in the water as Margaret changes her form into a young Khinasi woman with magic. She swims to the shoreline.
Margaret pauses here and summons Luna, handing her a rolled up piece of paper, then tells her to fly close to the tower and look for a window to either throw the paper in through or set it on the sill and tap the glass a few times. It says:
Adara. We have reason to believe that the Scorched Hand is going somewhere they aren’t supposed to tomorrow, and will set in motion events that will awaken an undead army and unleash a plague of madness.
-MB
Margaret then heads back to Ubek, keeping an eye on Luna as she flies that way. As Luna approaches the tower a large spectral hand appears and grabs the owl. Margaret snaps her fingers to dismiss Luna, hopefully leaving the note in the hand. Luna disappears and suddenly all the vision guards are looking around and yelling. Margaret dives back under the water and finds Ubek to swim away to the east.
They have to take their time to sneak back and not look suspicious.
At 4pm, late in the afternoon Margaret and Ubek return safely. The group briefly chats before Brin heads off to training, Margaret and Ana will get an early dinner before resting to be ready for tomorrow.
Brin arrives at training and speaks to Mahga. She's surprised to see him given the Necropolis reopens tomorrow for him, but he explains he has information for her. Though he asks her about the Khirdai priests upping their patrols. He noticed it on the way over. Mahga saud something happened at the palace and the priests are in a tizzy.
Brin explains:
- The Scorched Hand leader switched notes before showing their group.
- One of his female friends has premonitions about blood red moons.
- A death mask or shroud to do with the necropolis is also related to the premonitions.
- Red Kings might be involved with an attack soon.
Magha doesn't know what to do with these random facts. She reassures Brin the Red Kings don't attack major cities. Then Brin heads back to the inn. He arrives back when Jamal does. They head upstairs to talk to the girls.
As Ana is halfway through copying a spell into her book when there is a knock at the girls door. As they're invited in, Brin tells the group what little he learned tonight and how he confused Mahga. Jamal shares that the Sunrise Fellows were assigned The Windward Wend Oil Company last round and they never came back. This is the location they have now been given. The group discusses this and considers trying a rescue and Brin is certain that they would be dead after being there a week. Mistress Everhand is trying to see the High Priestess Sebti about the Scorched Hand but the priests are busy due to an intruder on the city leader.
Afterwards they all head to bed.
17th of Haelynir 1545
When they arrive at the gate the next morning, the Scorched Hand have already have their bags searched and are the first team to enter the necropolis when the gates open. The group quickly gets their inspection done and follows the Scorched Hand from a distance. Brin focuses his ki to help them be less noticeable.
At 6:30am the Scorched hand walks into a large building that has a public look to it instead of being an estate. The party waits ten minutes for the Scorched Hand to get busy inside before following themselves.
No doors block the grand entrance to this building-a wide flight of steps leads directly up into the temple's interior. Two humanoid statues flank the stairs, wearing black-and-white masks and holding quarterstaffs. Just inside the entry, two rows of columns lead toward an archway in the north wall. You can't see the space entirely, but after going up the stairs they see another entrance East and West. There are dead animals that Margaret and Luna can see on the ground. Margaret also notices the building appears to be in remarkably good condition for its age, especially compared to the other structures in the necropolis.
Margaret notes that the animals are freshly dead, though Ana isn't really sure they aren't just sleeping. The group continues to the Northern entryway. Space and elevation lend a sense of past grandeur and majesty to this large space. A large, star-shaped fountain with a circular pool in the center sits in the middle of the chamber. The bottom of the pool is decorated with a great mosaic eye made from tiny colored tiles, and hieroglyphs are carved into the paving stones ringing the fountain. Two rows of columns support the ceiling overhead, which continues to rise to a domed ceiling in the northern portion of the chamber. At the far end of the hall, a massive statue with arms raised overlooks the entire length of the temple from atop a raised dais. East and west of the fountain, two sets of stone double doors exit the chamber.
Luna can hear some faint movement in the NW corner of the space and there is something hiding behind the large statue that is on the raised section of the room. Margaret communicates this with the group and Brin makes the decision to focus on the statue first and room second. Brin directs the group to surround the statue. Meanwhile the creature has stealthed up onto the statues shoulder, though only Luna sees this. It's a strange humanoid with an eye for a face with teeth around it. Ubek tells the group there is a head in a space, but they see nothing. Ana catches a glimpse of one of the Scorched hand in the room to the left where original noises were heard.
When Ubek explains the head is like the ones from the last assignment, they leave the creatures to go confront the scorched hand. The room that the scorched hand are in has rows of stone shelves fill this crowded space. Most of the books and scrolls once stored here have disintegrated over time, but a few volumes engraved on more durable materials still endure. Numerous scroll tubes litter the floor of the room amid the dusty remains of ruined paper and papyrus. A solitary door is set into the western wall.
Brin clocks where the whole group is hidden behind the shelves. Ana can tell where Idorii (the dusky half elf) is, where Khelru (older Khinasi man) is, where Azaz (the younger Khinasi man) is, but not Velriana (the leader). Margaret just gets the younger man, but Luna gets him and the older man are. They call out the group to talk.
The leader is very unhappy the party is here and demands they go back to their own assigned area. They confront the leader with the burning of the slip and she denies it. The party throws around suggestions that the Scorched Hand will unleash the Plague of Madness by doing something here, which they take offense to. The group defends their leader and as Margaret sees they are not getting anywhere with this conversation, she casts detect thoughts subtly.
Velriana isn't open to discussion on the top and Margaret pushes deeper into her thoughts. This alerts Velriana to the use of magic and she warns the group they're using magic on her as Margaret learns Velirana paid a priest to give her this assignment and to take it away from the party. Then to send the party anywhere else. She didn't care where.
Combat breaks out at this point. The other figures that had been around the statue take this opportunity to attack the party from behind as the Scorched hand get aggressive from the front. A floating bull head like the one from the Pentheru tries to bite Margaret and breaks their invisibility before she runs into the library. Jamal immediately attacks the head but misses. From up high the strange eye monster looks at Brin and he finds himself stunned. Ana suggests a temporary truce between them and the scorched hand while they deal with these nasty things and then hash out their issues as she magically attacks the bullhead. As she does this another bullhead appeared and attacked Ana, breaking it's invisibility. Ubek tries to defend Ana and Luna hoots from the Southern area of the main room.
Inside the room Khelru is not immediately aggressive, but tries to cover his group as they run out the back to not have to fight in the sacred space of a library. He tells them to go around to the main space the group is in by taking the back way. Velriana takes advantage of this to run out the room. Margaret runs into the room, carefully dodging around Khelru to run after Velriana as the older woman tells the group what Velriana did. Idorii immediately turns on Margaret, running after her and shoving her up against the wall, threatening the older woman with her weapons. Azaz pokes his head out of the room and sees the dilemma outside, immediately using his magic to help the party with a magic missile and kills it.
Khelru moves outside of the library, summoning his spiritual quarterstaff and throwing acid at the second bullhead, as he comes to the party's aide. He makes it clear he will be very disappointed if they take advantage of the good will after such baseless accusations at his leader. Jamal also tries to attack this head but it bobs out the way. From the South Velirana has made her way back round to the entrance of the building. Standing among the freshly dead animals, she conjures magical darts to attack Ubek, badly hurting him. It distracts him from trying to hit the remaining bullhead as he calls out something is hurting him from the entrance but he can't see that far. The eye creature drops down and attacks Brin while he's stunned. The stunning effect has worn off of Brin as he attacks, though he ignores the creature attacking him and goes for the bullhead attacking the group.
Meanwhile out the back Margaret and Idorii talk as they have a bit of a stand off after Margaret carefully moves herself away from Idorii. Margaret tells her about her spell and what it revealed and how Velirana views her group.
In the main hall Ana can see the danger before her and defensively surrounds herself with a chilling magical armour. The head pays this no mind and attacks Ana anyway and is damaged by the coldness at the same time. Azaz does his best from a distance to help the group, but misses this time. Khelru uses his spiritual weapon to finish off the bull's head before throwing magic on the eye creature but missing. As the head falls, so does Jamal. Jamal's eyes roll into the back of his head and he collapses to the ground, his glasses falling off with a clatter. As he falls, other creatures like the dead jackals at the entrance start to get up again. Velriana notices this and makes magical copies of herself as she backs up in surprise at this turn of events. The jackals all turn on Velriana, running after her and attacking her. One of her magical copies disappearing as a jackal bites it.
Out the back, the pair are unaware of the madness happening in the main area of the temple. They continue to talk. It turns out Idorii is the hired help and the only one who does not follow Ruornil. She is paid a lot of money to protect Velriana.
In the main hall, the eye creature stuns Khelru and attacks Brin. The stun is successful but the attack is not. Ana focuses on the strange creature and attacks it, her blast hitting it well. Ubek panics with Jamal falling down. He moves his fallen friend away from the fight, but after checking him over he believes his new friend to be dead and he has failed again. Brin tells Ubek to leave Jamal alone and instead focus on protecting him as Brin attacks the strange eye creature. Luna swoops at the jackals to try and distract them. Azaz is distraught at Khelru's stunned condition as he fires off another round of magical darts, but this time at the eye creature to try and do what he can to help the situation. Jamal lays as still as the grave while Khelru is stunned. Velriana disappears in a spray of fire and reappears near Luna as she throws acid towards the creatures but misses as she tries to put some distance between her and them. With their main target gone, the dead jackals spread out to attack everyone. Jamal is being ripped apart while Ubek is also hurt trying to defend him. The jackals that pursued Velriana remove another magical copy as they bite the wrong one.
Out the back, Margaret can hear some movement somewhere to the South of her. She moves to look and sees two zombies. She and Idorii team up to attack them. Idorii runs her khopesh through one and it falls back down as the other turns it's attention on them.
In the main hall, the eye creature tears through Brin and nearly put him down but Brin is stronger then that. Ana calls on Xeldarix's Healing Light to aid them as she heals Brin back up. Ubek tells the doggies that Brin said no touch Jamal as he puts one back down. Luna continues to try and help Velriana. Brin quickly defeats the strange eye creature. Azaz is briefly relieved when Khelru moves again, but then unnerved when his frost magic doesn't seem to hurt the jackals on a direct hit. Khelru tries to reassure his partner, but struggles to get back into the swing of combat.
A strange groan that is deep and startling comes out of Jamal as he blinks. His head rolls to the side and look up at the creature biting him. He tells the creature it doesn't have permission to be up as he tries to use his magic to harm it but is unsteady and unable to make contact with one of the jackals attacking him. Velriana has more luck, putting two down. However she scolds her team for working with the intruders and accuses the party of raising the dead. Meanwhile the Jackals continue to tear into Ubek.
Out the back Margaret can hear bits of what Valriana says and is confused as to why they would raise the dead to attack themselves as she continues to deal with the zombie before them. Idorii is annoyed by it all as she attacks the zombie herself, though it still stands for now. Another stumbles around the corner towards them. It slams into Idorii.
Ana and Ubek try to continue dealing with the jackals but without any success. Brin shows them how it's down as he cuts one in half. Azaz pulls out a dagger looking real nervous and swallowed visially. Then slams down and actually hits it despite being very obviously uncomfortable with hand to hand fighting. He looks to Khelru for approval. Khelru uses his spiritual weapon to destroy an undead as Azaz did. Jamal curls up on his side. Velriana continues to scold the group, commenting about Idorii's absence. While Idorii and Margaret are continuing to fight their unseen threat. Idorii takes another hit from one of them.
Ana looks around, nervous about more undead while Ubek checks on Jamal. Brin yells at the Velriana about the things that have attacked them being something that they don't understand. Azaz idolly lectures how the friend and undead are normal, though getting up so quickly after being killed is strange. He does kind of defend Idorii as he makes not Margaret is also missing. Khelru confirms the unusualness and declares they should go to the gate to clear up the misunderstanding about the assignment. Luna hoots loudly and slaps the back of Velirana’s head while flying past her. Velriana's hand fills with fire as she pulls back her hand to throw it at the owl, but then turns around to look behind her. She doesn't see anything it might have been trying to get her attention to see. Velriana declares the gate a waste of time and if the party was telling the truth they would have brought priests here to sort this out.
Out the back Margaret and Idorii destroy one of the zombies and only one remains. Idorii takes another hit In the main room two new figures come into the room and attack Velriana, downing her easily. They demand everyone should leave as this is their temple. They are wearing priestly vestments. Ana immediately attacks the new comers. Ubek tells Jamal to stay as he uses his shortbow to also attack the new figures. Brin responds to the creatures and informs them the group will want the body but it's fine that this temple is theirs. Azaz runs up and tells these new comers off for picking on people while they're done. He seems rather uncertain of himself. Khelru uses heals Velriana so she can't be used as a hostage against them. Jamal slowly gets to his feet when he realises he cannot rest now, it will have to come later. He moves towards the group as he attacks with his magic. He tells them to step away and they can get the priests at the gate to sort this situation out now a third party is claiming the spot. Velriana comes to and immediately disappears in a spray of fire as she back away from everyone, reappearing near the statue.
Margaret and Idorii continue to attack the zombie. Margaret updates Idorii from what she has seen through Luna about what is happening in the main area. Idorii seems annoyed by this but continues fighting.
The new figure says they will not discuss it and just tells everyone to leave. Their Khinasi sounds old and weird. They spread out and are defensive. Ana warns them not to come any closer or Brin will beat them up as she reminds Azaz about his cantrips. Ubek backs Ana up verballing while preparing to fire at these newcomers. Brin continues the charade of the group leaving. Azaz isn't sure and puts the decision making on Khelru. Khelru is suspicious of the new comers and uses his magic to sense that these two new creatures are undead. Jamal Banes the newcomers. Velriana throws acid on the figure that climbed up on the platform as she continues to make up.
Margaret and Idorii finally kill the undead zombie once more and Idorii focuses to reinvigorate herself a little bit before heading back to find the "nerds". In the main hall, the figures both look at Khelru and call him out for his rudeness as they move forward to attack. Held actions go off as they try to claw Brin's face off. The other attacks Velriana and knocks her back down. Ana throws a beam of golden energy at one but misses. Instead she uses her mind to shove the creature back away from Brin. Ubek puts another arrow in the figure. Brin rushes up to cut down the figure before rushing up the stairs towards Velriana and that figure. Azaz panics, tells Khelru about Velriana as he tries to cast a cantrip but misses. Khelru rushes up the stairs and heals Velriana.
Jamal sighs and slowly moves to follow the action. Velriana wakes up and attacks the creature with her rapier. The final figure tries and fails to claw at Velriana and Khelru. Margaret and Idorii come running back to the area. Ana and Azaz throws magic at the last figure while Ubek shoots an arrow, but all three misses. Brin runs to slice at the creature while focusing his ki to be more defensive. Khelru uses his quarterstaff to hit the figure. Jamal throws his magic at the creature as he tells it to stay down since it is far more peaceful then getting back up again.
Velriana continues to keep up her airs of superiority as she declares this aide will not do the party any favours as they have introduced on the Scorched Hands assignment as she fails to hit the creature attacking her. Margaret tries use her magic to help as Idorii marches up to insult the figure and distract it. The Figure does not like the fact Idorii has insulted him and claws at her. Margaret uses her moon magic to distract the figure from critically hitting Idorii. Ana, Azaz and Ubek still tries and fails to hit the figure from afar. Brin slashes at the creature with his axe, but he continues to stand. Jamal adds where he can from afar with his magic and so does Margaret. Margaret warns Velriana to think carefully on what she says when this fight is done if she wants to leave here alive. Idorii trying to attack the figure but misses as she tells her boss that the time for "fucking around and finding out" is done.
The figure comments that there seems to be some internal politics to deal with as he volunteers to help out by removing the one person they all have an issue with, aka Velriana. However only hits Idorii. Ana pleads with Xeldarix to help her take this creature out. Her gold eye flashes as the radiant light comes down and blasts the figure. Then she asks Ubek if she can ride on shoulder and he allows it. With the danger now past, Velriana looks around nervously at the group as Ana demands that the Anurian tell the group what she did.
At first Velriana plays dumb but Margaret is happy to just kill her. Brin calls their intentions here dumb and a waste of time due to how long it would take to get this place to the point of being ready for the public due to being inside a dead city. Velriana is annoyed at this as if that wasn't something they hadn't taken into consider. The group is willing to put years into getting this place to be a safe place to worship. Only a simpleton would look at that obstacle and not even bother trying. They discuss the matter further and it seems the group has a very different idea about what the Scorched Hand was doing here.
Velriana is called out for:
- Using Khelru and Azaz's faith as a pawn.
- Bribing her way to get this place.
- She has her own agenda and won't be happy just reading books.
Once again Velriana tries to get the party to leave and to get a priest to deal with this if they were in the wrong. Khelru however is starting to see through the lies as Velriana and Margaret discuss. In the end Velriana suggests they all walk back to get this sorted out by the High Priestess.
As the group heads out they spot fresh bloody footprints coming out the Western entrance and heading out of the building. Idorii theories that maybe the Scorched hand weren't the problem. They would just be here when the problem happened. The group quickly follows the footsteps. However they end not long after leaving the building, suggesting the person might have used magic to continue their travel. At the same time the group also notices Velriana has also disappeared, seemingly to make a run for it.
They rush back to the temple. No one seems to have re-entered. They discuss new plans. It is likely the artefact has probably been taken. Azaz and Khelru want to work with the group as this place is very important to them. Idorii is done but isn't stupid enough to try and leave on her own in a necropolis. There is a discussion about sayim and how it could effect theirs.
Azaz, Khelru, Jamal, and Margaret head to the library to do some research. Brin, Ana, Idorii and Ubek search around the area. They start in the main room with the statue and fountain. Then working clockwise. There is a room with a pool (empty), chapel, kitchen, dining area, doors and high ppriest rooms. They report back to the others. Ana takes the time to do a ritual casting of detect magic. While waiting Brin throws darts, though is told by Khelru to do so outside. Brin doesn't go outside and inside just does it in the room just outside the library, throwing it at the locked North door. He notices the door healing itself as the floor attacks Brin.
Jamal looks up confused as Brin yells. When he sees that the floor now has arms, he suggests Brin apologises for whatever he has done wrong. The group all bands together to help Brin. It disappears after taking so much damage. After they deal with the problem, everyone stops for a break.
After the break, the non nerd group do a sweep for magical items after the detect magic spell is ritually cast successfully this time. In the library she finds two magical scrolls. Brin gets bored as they search around it, so he starts to hang off the statue. The creature that attacked them before comes back and attacks Brin once more for his disrespect. The group once more comes to his defence and after it takes a certain amount of damage, it stops and retreats once more into the building. Brin resolves to just sit and wait.
When the book group get back to work. Near the end of the day they have made some discoveries. Margaret finds an unrolled papyrus scroll discarded on the floor. It describes, in Ancient Masesian, how magicians of Maseian could alter elementals to new forms and purposes. The text describes the concept of an ahkha and the "keystone" that binds it to a building and pacifies it. The scroll further mentions that such keystones were frequently built into the foundations of the structure and often concealed by secret doors. It is implyed to be an Earth elemental originally. Meanwhile Jamal finds a secret compartment.
Ana comes over with Ubek to try and open the secret compartment. A scroll inside attacks Ana when she opens it. The group gets together to defend her. When it's defeated, they look at it to see it has arcane script on it that no one can read. There is also writing in the hidden compartment. Inside the compartment is a tablet, three scroll tubes containing a scroll each, and a wand. At the back is the following inscription.
The group will start identifying things.
Pool of Protection
The Ancient Masesian hieroglyphs ringing the fountain identify it as the "Pool of Protection." The pool has a faint aura of abjuration and transmutation, and the water within is cool, clean, and safe to drink. Any spellcaster who drinks water from the pool gains a minor blessing, allowing her to cast one spell of the abjuration school at +1 caster level and with a +1 bonus to the saving throw DC. T h e effect lasts for 24 hours or until used, and the benefit can be gained only once per day.
Tablet of lots languages
Fashioned from granite, this stone tablet is approximately 2 feet long, 1 foot wide, and just over an inch thick. Dating about 2,000 years ago, the tablet was once part of a larger stone stele that was publicly displayed for all to see. Now known as the tablet of languages lost, the broken slab is inscribed with a vow of fealty to the Padishah Emperor of Kelesh in three different languages: Masesian, Andu, Basarji. The characters and hieroglyphs of the three languages correspond to one another and serve as a translation key between the languages.
Once per day, upon speaking the command word, the owner of the tablet can read and understand any written texts as if using comprehend languages for a period of 30 minutes. This does not allow the owner to speak or write unknown languages, or read magical writings (though the tablet reveals that such texts are magical). In addition, if the tablet is readily available and at hand, the owner gains a +3 competence bonus on checks related to the text they are reading. Finally, if the owner knows at least one of the three languages inscribed on the tablet, he can attempt Linguistics checks to translate the other two languages even if untrained in the Linguistics skill.
Possession of the tablet of languages lost serves as an acceptable rationale for the owner to learn one of the three languages inscribed upon it without the need of a teacher or library in downtime. Although the tablet of languages lost was created to ease the transition from pharaonic rule to that of a foreign monarch, other tablets could exist bearing different messages in other languages.
Scrolls/wand:
- Remove Paralysis
- Detect Secret Doors
- Magic weapon
- Hold undead
- Knock
- Wand of lesser restoration
Brin is a little disappointed that nothing they have found seems dangerous, but Margaret points out it is unlikely the item is still here. It was likely took by whoever left the bloody footprints. Brin estimates the value of things.
Missions/Quests Completed
Assignment 3 - The Windward Wend Oil Company
On Pause while chasing moon shenanigans.
Rescue - Sunrise Fellows
On Pause as not sure if worth it yet.
Moon - Scorched Hand
Mid quest. Isn't what the party thought it was.
