Check In Question: If you could have any job, besides the one you have now, what would it be?
- Kevin: Either programming or any job that actually ends when work hours are over. Gobbles would be a Hydra-Meat burger slinger.
- Miranda: I would like to be in an orchestra or a psychologist. Lysithea wants the job in Ryphyet where she gets to yell at people packing sand. Or a Librarian.
- Cordelia: I want to be an artist. Surina also wants to be an artist.
- Justice: Writer. Patrin Gemtail would like to be a museum curator.
When we last left the party they had feasted with the Knights of the Red Jaguar after sparring with them. The knights offered the party a place to stay for the night, allowing them to recover physically from their brawl and mentally from their encounter with the Lord Commander. They are now very eager to leave Barlsod, wanting to get as far away from the overwhelming mass of magic the city is protecting. They are planning on heading to the Jorra’be Jungle, hoping to beat the Acrael Shipping Company there.
The party thanks the knights for their hospitality and bid their farewells. They pass several knights from the different houses on their way back to the docks. Gobbles (passive perception 17) notices a young teenager wearing the Junior Explorer’s League uniform and sash talking to a teen Dragonborn. This is a Roc Scout, the highest level of scout in the Junior Explorer’s League. The Dragonborn stands out as his scales are a color they have never seen before. In the morning light his scales shine a sparkling emerald green. The kid is talking to him in a very excited voice.
Scout: He’s outside the wall! He has the item! I know he does! They’re going to take it away if we don’t get to it now! Let’s go!
The scout runs off, towards the opposite side of the city. The Dragonborn grumbles, then chases off after him. Gobbles flashes some completely incomprehensible hand signals, then runs off to follow them. Lysithea rolls her eyes, then chases after Gobbles, followed by Surina. Professor grumbles and grunts under his breath, muttering about wanting to get back to his stuff, so he continues towards the docks. K’un-Lun follows as he is supposed to meet Schtolteheim on the ship. Octavia accompanies Professor and K’un-Lun knowing that she will need to keep an eye on them both.
Gobbles, followed by Lysithea and Surina, chases the scout and Dragonborn through the town markets. There’s a wide array of shops, including weapon stores, voodoo shops, and souvenir stands. Lysithea feels magic coming from each store. Looking closer, the theme of each shop is magical items, a tourist trap of magical shops. Based on what they know, the party deduces that the shops are selling all of the magical items the knights find that are not powerful artifacts.
They see the scout and Dragonborn run out of the city through a huge, open gate. The gate is solid metal. It looks like it would take a warmachine to open the gate if it wasn’t already wide open. Exiting the northern end of the city there is a natural split in the land, changing from desert to grassland. Gobbles is humming the Mission Impossible theme while rolling as he follows the scout (stealth 9). People are staring at him, but they are not stopping him. They see the scout and Dragonborn run up to a huge wagon with a small crowd gathered around it. On top of the wagon stands a Halfling, wearing a turban around his head and a cloak that is slightly too big. There are tables set out with different items displayed.
Halfling: Come one! Come all! See the magical arrangement of mysterious items that no one has ever beheld! Come and see these incredible items for sale for this day only, before I get shut down!
The party makes their way into the small crowd, with Gobbles keeping an eye on the scout.
Halfing: For example, take this lamp!
Gobbles: Okay.
Halfling: This lamp was discovered many years ago, but lost again! It is the Lamp of Lost and Found! You can see your reflection in it!
He puts a black cloth over the lamp, pulls it up, and then it’s gone.
Lysithea: How is he going to sell it?
He puts the black cloth back over his hand, lifts it up, and the lamp is back.
Halfling: Here it is again! You find it one moment, you lose it the next!
Lysithea: What is the point?
The party has quickly gathered that this salesman is just a conman, but his showmanship has the crowd spell bound. Lysithea rolls her eyes as the crowd “Ooohs” and “Ahhhhs”.
Halfling: Next item! This staff was owned by a monk who lived thousands and thousands of years ago! It is said this monk fell asleep forever and we no longer see him. But this staff, it shrinks, and it grows again!
Surina: Does he mean K’un-Lun?
Lysithea: I don’t think K’un-Lun ever owned a staff.
Surina: Okay, I’m confused right now.
Lysithea: I don’t think this guy is telling the truth.
Halfling: Who will be the one to own K’un-Lun’s shrinking and growing staff?
Surina: (Insight 14) K’un-Lun never owned a staff!
Halfing: Ah, we have a historian over there! What you may like is… *pulls out a box* This item was found in the den of a sphinx. The sphinx told these amazing riddles. The finder of the box failed in his quest, but we found the box! Behold, the legendary jeweled scarab!
He cracks open the box just slightly, then shuts it again.
Halfling: A historian can tell that this is the real jeweled scarab. This scarab was said to be owned by pharaohs, passed down from generation to generation. The fabled jeweled scarab!
He opens the box to reveal what looks almost like a ladybug covered in jewels.
Scout: That’s it! That’s it! Patrin, that’s the item!
Dragonborn Patrin: Calm down! If it is the item we’ll get it.
Scout: 100 gold!!
Halfling: Well, we have 100 gold here, 100 gold. Do I hear 110? 110 gold?
An older man raises his hand.
Halfling: 110 gold! We have 110 gold to the fine looking gentleman wearing the top hat.
The man is not wearing a top hat.
Gobbles: 110 and 1 copper!
Halfling: I’ll take 110 and 1 copper!
Old Man: 115 gold.
Gobbles: 115 and 1 copper!
Halfling: We’re not in The Price is Right, sir!
Gobbles: I don’t know what that means!
Halfing: Do I hear 120 gold?
Scout: We need this Patrin.
Patrin: I’ll give you 50 of my gold.
Scout: 150 gold!
Hafling: 150 heard! 150 going once! 150 going twice!
Gobbles: Can I borrow 1 gold?
Lysithea: Sure. Here.
Gobbles: 151 gold!
Halfling: 151 gold to the little, short, green guy over there! Going once! Going twice! Sold!
Gobbles: Yeah!
Lysithea: Now why did I lend you that?
Gobbles: For adventure.
Halfling: You can collect your winnings at the end of the day, folks!
The Halfling continues to pull out other items to auction off, clearly making things up about each item. At the end of the action the Halfling approaches Gobbles.
Halfling: Good sell, man. Good sell.
Gobbles: Thank you. I’m Gobbles the Goblin, what’s your name?
Halfling: Mordechai Haramme. Here is your jeweled scarab, sir.
Gobbles: Does it come with the box, too?
Mordechai: Yes, of course.
Gobbles: Yeah!
Gobbles checks to make sure the scarab is actually inside the box and that the item is legit. The scarab appears to actually be made of gold and jewels, a 100% legitimate artifact. The scout and Patrin approach Gobbles when Mordechai walks off.
Scout: Why would you do that? Do you know what you have?
Gobbles: Something awesome.
Scout: It is! It’s a key!
Gobbles: What is it a key to?
Scout: Follow me.
The scout runs off back into the city. Gobbles grips the box tightly and skitters off after the scout. Patrin walks right behind Gobbles to make sure he doesn’t run off.
Gobbles: Hi friend.
Patrin: Hi.
Gobbles: If you let us accompany you and give us 152 gold this box and its contents can be yours.
The party follows the scout to a small mansion inside the city. There are guards out front, but the scout leads them in. There are pictures of the scout throughout the house, some with his parents, others of his scout accomplishments. He takes them upstairs to a large room filled with maps.
Scout: I’ve been doing research. There’s a tomb that’s been hidden forever of this ancient pharaoh, and I found it! *shows his drawings and maps* But I couldn’t get in. There’s an image of a scarab. When I saw that Mordechai had it I knew it was the key. But you bought it.
Gobbles: Yes.
Patrin: He said he would sell it to you for 152 gold.
Gobbles: And telling us the location so that we can be there when you open it.
Scout: Yes. More than welcome.
Gobbles: Deal.
Lysithea: Don’t we have things to do?
Gobbles: Maybe?
The scout goes into his closet and pulls out 10 bags that he throws out onto a table.
Scout: That’s 100 gold. Patrin has 50. *rummages through his belongings* Here’s 5 more gold. That’s 155.
Gobbles hands Lysithea 2 of the gold.
Gobbles: I’ve doubled your investment. You’re welcome.
Lysithea: Thank you.
Gobbles hands the scarab over to the scout. The scout gives Patrin a look.
Scout: I’m ready.
Patrin: Okay. We’re going to head out.
Gobbles: To where?
Scout: To where I found the tomb.
Lysithea: Do your parents know you’re doing this?
Scout: My parents are okay, yes.
Gobbles: With this?
Scout: Yes.
Gobbles: Can you say that in a sentence?
Scout: I am a Junior Explorer who can explore wherever he wants to go as long as it’s within the radius and I go with my Junior Explorer Protector.
Patrin nods.
Scout: It says so in the rulebook.
Lysithea: And how many tombs have you explored?
Scout: By myself? Listen, it’s my goal to become a High Explorer.
Lysithea: How many tombs have you explored?
Scout: I’ve explored 5 tombs *points to badge* and 6 ancient dig sites *points to badge*…
Lysithea: And were you accompanied by other people when you did these?
Scout: Yes.
Lysithea realizes that this kid is probably going to get himself killed, especially considering her own experiences with tombs and the fact that the only tombs this scout has been into have been guided walkthroughs with other people.
Gobbles: If we go can we start earning badges ourselves?
Lysithea: Gobbles, we’ve explored other tombs already.
Gobbles: So we should get a bunch of badges, then.
Lysithea: We’re actual adventurers and explorers!
Gobbles: Then we should have badges equal with our rank!
The scout begins packing up his backpack, making sure he has his canteen and towel, but they don’t see him pack a weapon.
Lysithea: What do you have to protect yourself with?
Scout: The Junior Explorers’ Guidebook.
Lysithea: You sweet summer child. And what do you have to protect yourself with?
Patrin: Axes and stuff. I can protect him.
Lysithea (arcana adjusted 20) can sense that there is magic emanating from and swirling around Patrin, even though he looks like a simple musclehead.
Lysithea: Why are we here?
Gobbles: I mean, things tend to happen for a reason. We don’t know that whatever we find in there isn’t going to help us along the way.
Scout: I’m going whether you come with me or not.
He finishes packing and starts heading out.
Scout: Come on. My parents will get mad if they find out I have people here.
Lysithea begrudgingly decides to accompany the scout and his Dragonborn companion into the tomb. She cannot, in good conscience, leave children to go off on their own and die. She believes they need an adult, but she is not happy about being that adult.
Scout: We’re going to head out now. You can go get prepared and meet us here.
He hands the party a map with directions. They return to the ship to gather their supplies, including the mysterious dagger Lysithea found in the troll in the sewers of Ryhpyet. She informs Octavia that, due to Gobbles, they will be helping some children explore a tomb outside of the city. They walk back out to the dock of the ship and see the crew gasping and staring. Perched on the front of the boat is a very odd looking bird. It looks like a giant stork with a snake body and tail. Strangely, no one on the docks seems to notice the bird. Only those on the boat can see it. The bird cawks a bit, and the party can hear a voice inside their heads.
Bird: I am a messenger. There is a great threat that is about to be unleashed. Since your dealings with the other tombs we have watched you. Please go help.
Lysithea: Well, we were going to anyway. I don’t think those kids should be coming anymore, though.
Gobbles: Thanks for the advice, bird-snake. What’s your name? I’m Gobbles the Goblin.
Bird: I am Biante. I have come to deliver this message, and now I must go.
They feel a warm breeze as the bird spreads out its wings, the span of a full-grown Dragonborn. It flaps its wings, causing sand to appear and swirl from nowhere, and flies off.
Lysithea: I would like one day, just one day, where nothing weird happens.
Gobbles: You mean when nothing exciting happens? Why would you want that?
Lysithea: You know what would be exciting? A day where I can read. Just one day to read in peace, that would be exciting. But no, now we have to go save children before they unleash a horror upon the world.
Surina (history 16) has heard stories about these birds. They are ancient secretaries of the higher powers that used to be around the Rooja Desert. They only appear when they are sent. It would not have answered any questions they would have asked about the task at hand. She feels like it was both a good thing that it appeared, because they haven’t been seen in forever, but also a terrible omen that it was sent. Schtolteheim, who witnessed the whole thing, looks like he is about to have a heart attack.
Lysithea: K’un-Lun, go attend to your man. He’s your responsibility, you take care of him. Octavia, you keep an eye on K’un-Lun and the Professor. We have to go rescue some children now.
Gobbles, Surina, and Lysithea gather the rest of their things and head out. They take their camels, who were safe on the boat, since they will be traveling through the desert to reach their destination. They do not run into any encounters and catch up to the scout and Patrin before they enter the tomb. The scout has the box in his hand and he is about to open the tomb.
Scout: Oh, perfect timing! We’re about to go in!
Lysithea: I don’t think they should come.
Gobbles: You guys wanna go explore the outside, and we’ll explore the inside?
Scout: No.
Gobbles: It’s brighter out here. You can see easier.
Scout: No, I’m going in. I bought this for 155 gold and I’m going in.
Lysithea: I can’t stop you from going in, but if you do anything without permission I will hit you over the head. Don’t touch anything.
Scout: I know how to get in, except for one section, and now I have the key!
He brushes off a large amount of sand and pushes open a door. He lights a torch and enters.
Lysithea: Shouldn’t we have gone in first?
Gobbles: Probably.
Gobbles runs forward, jostling up against him in an attempt to get in front. They come up to a giant door. They recognize the pictures as the same ones from the snake tomb, the sphinx tomb, and all around Queen Themaphila’s temple.
Lysithea to Patrin: We have been in these tombs before. As his protector you should not let him go inside. If you care about him, he should not go in.
Patrin: Okay, but he’s going to.
Lysithea: Be ready.
Lysithea can make out some of the writings as they are written in a form of Deep Speech. The writings are about a spirit sealed in the tomb. The scout places the scarab onto the door.
Lysithea: Child! You always. Read. First. There’s a spirit potentially sealed in here! You have to think before acting! You have much to learn! How did you earn those badges?
Scout: By doing stuff like this.
Lysithea: Oh my gosh, no!
Scout: The Junior Explorers’ League rewards those that are inquisitive.
Lysithea: Yes, inquisitive. You survey your surroundings first! Surina, help me out here!
Scout: High Explorer Horgus always says, “Jump first, ask questions while you fall.”
Lysithea: And isn’t he missing?
Scout: Because he jumped first.
Surina: Oh no…
Gobbles: Yes, and he’s missing!
Lysithea: We may have to tie this kid up.
The doors open Cave of Wonders style, and the smell of stagnant cave air fills the area. It’s a rocky sandstone formation going in. Surina, the experienced, established paladin leads the way. Gobbles constantly jostles with the scout to make sure he doesn’t run forward. Patrin and Lysithea bring up the rear. They come up to a large wall.
Lysithea: Oh darn. A dead end. Turn around.
Scout: It’s never just a dead end!
Gobbles agrees that the scout should not touch anything, so he begins frantically touching everything hoping to activate something that doesn’t kill anyone. As he pokes and prods at things, sand begins falling off the walls, revealing more pictures. But before they can get a clear look at the pictures Gobbles hits the magic spot and the door swings open.
Scout: See? Jump first, ask questions after.
Gobbles: I’m not the role model here.
Lysithea: Gobbles is not the role model, he’s the exception to the rule.
They are able to keep the scout from running in and take a moment to look at the pictures. They see images of ancient burials, similar to the mummification process of ancient Egypt. They also see images of a lone building.
Lysithea: Alright, kid, learn. Observe.
Scout: It’s a building standing all by itself with a bunch of burials around it. It’s about ancient customs.
The scout tries to rush through the door, but Surina (athletics 15) is able to stop him. She grabs onto him as he tries to push his way through.
Gobbles: If anyone is going to get everybody killed by jumping ahead it’s’ going to be me, not you.
Begin Tomb Exploration
(Initiative Lysithea 12, Gobbles 7, Surina 12) Surina walks through the doors into a big open space. There’s a giant boulder blocking the next hallway. She moves into the center of the room and feels a dark energy begin to form. From the sands below her feet emerge 3 zombies. They are just out of her reach, so she throws a javelin at one of them (attack 13), hitting for 7 damage. She throws a second javelin at the same zombie (attack 9) but misses her target. One of the zombies tries to slam Surina, but she expertly dodges. The zombie goes in for another slam, this time hitting Surina for 1 bludgeoning damage and 5 necrotic damage. The second zombie tries to hit Surina, but its meager attacks plink off of her armor. The third zombie attacks Surina twice, hitting her on the second attack for 2 bludgeoning and 7 necrotic damage. Lysithea shoves past the scout and enters the room. She shoots Fire Bolt at one of the zombies (attack 27) for 6 fire damage. Gobbles scurries into the room and fires double Confetti Eldritch Blasts at the same zombie (attack 9, Nat 20). His second blast hits the zombie for 18 force damage. Draggy runs in (initiative 18) to assist! He positions himself to flank on the zombies, then smashes it with his battleaxe (attack 12) for 5 damage. He swings his axe again (attack 12), hitting the zombie for 6 more damage. The scout runs into the room, takes a look around, and opens his Junior Explorers’ Guidebook.
Scout: Those are plague spreaders! They are weak, but they will keep coming until they get hit by radiant damage! Be careful of their breath they release as clouds!
The party, who have experienced zombies before, all roll their eyes. Patrin, however, has become inspired. He darts into the rooms swinging his axe, releasing a sparkle as it slices (attack Nat 20). He easily slices into one of the zombies for a significant amount of damage.
Patrin: We don’t need radiant damage if we cleave off their limbs fast enough!
Lysithea: That won’t stop their breath!
Draggy continues to hack at the zombie (attack 19, 23) for 21 total damage. Surina pulls out her longsword and stabs at the zombie (attack 19) for 9 damage. She lunges again (attack 26), dealing 11 more damage to the zombie. One of the zombies lets out its horrible breath (constitution saving throw Gobbles 6, Lysithea 10, Surina 15, Draggy 11). Surina only takes 3 damage, but Gobbles, Draggy, and Lysithea each take 6 damage from the horrid breath. The second zombie lets out its breath (constitution saving throw Gobbles adjusted 20, Draggy 10, Lysithea 23, Surina 18). Draggy takes 9 damage, and everyone else takes 4. The final zombie lets out its breath (constitution saving throw Gobbles 7, Draggy 6, Lysithea 26, Surina 18). Gobbles and Draggy take 6 damage, Lysithea and Surina take 3.
Lysithea: That was gross.
Lysithea shoots Fire Bolt at a zombie (attack 14) for 10 fire damage. The zombie falls down in flames, unable to resurrect. Gobbles pops 2 Confetti Eldritch Blasts at another zombie (attack Nat 1, 10). The first blast turns back around and Gobbles gets smacked in the face with a glob of icing.
Gobbles: Delicious!
The second blast hits the zombie for 4 damage. The scout shoots a Fire Bolt at one of the zombies, hitting it for enough damage to take it down. Patrin moves in to axe the final zombie in the face (attack 19), carving pieces of flesh off of it. Draggy joins in and axes the zombie (attack 17) for 12 damage. Surina swings her sword at the zombie (attack 17) for 5 damage, and again (attack 18) for 12 more damage. The zombie tries to slam Surina twice, but she brushes the attacks off as if they are nothing. Lysithea shoots Fire Bolt at the zombie (attack 25) for 14 fire damage. The zombie falls and is unable to resurrect.
Gobbles: What are you talking about, res?
Lysithea: I’m so sick of zombies.
Scout: Excellent! Moving on.
The scout runs forward to the huge stone blocking the hallway.
Lysithea: Surina!
Scout: Up and away!
Patrin gives him a boost up…
Lysithea: What did I say?!?
… and easily grabs onto the rock and swings himself up one handed, carrying both of them up and over to the other side.
Surina: Nope! Nope!
Gobbles: Hey Patrin! You just saw what happened! Why are you throwing the kid in before us?
Patrin: Explorer League business!
Lysithea: ACTUAL explorer business! Surina, you may have to give them a talking to.
Surina (athletics 24) shoves the boulder with 1 hand, sending it sliding across the room. With the hallway now cleared the party runs into the hallway after the reckless teenagers.
Lysithea: Surina, they’re going to do something to make this a lot worse and will probably get hurt or killed. You may want to say something to them. Because I’m no longer taking responsibility for them.
Considering the scarab key, hidden door, zombie traps, and giant boulder, it’s very obvious that someone does not want anyone entering this tomb. Moving through the tomb they come up to a huge temple with giant red doors. There are vignettes all along the doors, each one featuring one specific theme: a jackal. There’s different images of a jackal giving things to different creatures. There’s snakes, a sphinx, there’s an image of a jackal with amulets in its mouth, many situations that the party recognizes. There are also situations that the party does not recognize. Lysithea immediately begins taking notes.
Gobbles: This is like a prophecy!
Lysithea: This is not a prophecy, this is what has happened. Surina, do you see the theme of the jackals here? Do you see how dangerous this just became? You need to speak to this teenager explorer now.
(Perception Gobbles 17) This is ancient. It looks pristine, like no one has been down here, or was supposed to be down here.
Lysithea: We need to seal this place off and leave.
The scout and Patrin being to barrel through, not paying attention to anything else.
Surina: HEY! (athletics 8)
Surina tries to stop them, but the wide eyed scout is too eager and darts past her.
Gobbles: Kid! Calm down! If anyone is going to rush ahead and get us all killed it’s going to be Gobbles!
Surina: You don’t realize how dangerous this is! You’re going to get hurt! You’re about to unleash an ancient evil upon the world if you don’t stop! (Persuasion 11)
The teenagers do not care. The scout pushes open the giant doors and runs in. Gobbles sprints forward to see whatever horrors await them screeching…
Gobbles: If anyone is going to get us killed it’s going to be me!
Gobbles enters a spotless tomb. The walls are painted in more stories, showing the progression of a jackal figure giving gifts to evil looking monsters, with each monster becoming more horrible than the last. Lysithea makes a note of everything she sees, knowing that if they haven’t faced the creature before they will be in the future. The jackal figure has apparently been involved in a lot of the evil doings in the history of the world. Lysithea only recognizes some of the Deep Speech scrawled along the paintings. She can tell that this place was made to honor the trickster, the spirit of chaos.
Lysithea: Well that makes sense! We need to seal this place in.
Gobbles: Hey kid, hold on one second.
The scout is marveling at the paintings when his eyes find two more doors.
Lysithea: Don’t touch anything!
The scout opens the doors and…. WHACK! Lysithea whacks him over the head with her staff (attack 18) and knocks him out cold. She turns to Patrin, furious.
Lysithea: I thought you were here to protect him!
Patrin: Also here to see where this goes.
Lysithea: You are about to unleash an unholy danger upon this world! That’s not protecting him!
Patrin: It’s a tomb…
Lysithea: Do you have any idea what this is? Are you expecting this to just be ancient ruins?
Patrin: Yes.
Lysithea: Did you see all of the things that were trying to keep you out?
Patrin: And we took care of them.
Lysithea: Oh, you sweet summer child.
Patrin: Listen, I understand. But you also have to get that he wants this. He wants to be an explorer, and I want to be a knight.
Lysithea: This is not the right way to do it. Let me introduce to you a prestigious knight.
Gobbles: Yeah, just because she’s not some member of your cosplay group. She’s a real knight of a real god. His name’s Bahamut. Have you heard of him?
Patrin: Yeah, uh, I have.
Gobbles: He’s a shiny dragon guy.
Patrin: He’s not my shiny dragon guy.
Gobbles: Yeah, you worship an orangutan or a cat or something. Look, I know cats and dragons are pretty much the same thing, but Bahumut is shinier.
Patrin: *shrugs* Go do what you have to do. The knights will be in here anyway once we get back.
Gobbles: Yeah, but they’ll do things to contain the evil rather than unleash it.
Lysithea: Yes, and you can watch what they do if that’s what you want to become.
Gobbles: How many young, aspiring explorers actually make it to become prestigious ones? Cause the ones that don’t are the ones doing exactly what you guys were doing here.
Lysithea: You seem to have a lot of potential but you also seem really apathetic and I’m not sure if that’s the right attitude to get what you want.
Patrin: *shrugs* Go ahead then.
Lysithea: Protect your friend.
During this time Surina was writing down rules for becoming a knight, which she reads Patrin.
Surina: 1) Read before you go. 2) Kids can NOT release danger. 3) Do not be a bad explorer. 4) Listen to those older and more experienced than you.
Lysithea: I think these two just broke every one of those rules.
Inside the room is a set of stone stairs leading up to a sarcophagus. From the doorway the sarcophagus looks very shiny (Perception Gobbles 19), but it’s only painted gold, not real gold. The party has a discussion about what they should do. Ideally they could just seal this area off and leave, but that would not stop others from trying to come in and unleash the spirit. After witnessing the power the amulets gave Josie and the Tabaxi they resolve that they need to destroy the spirit so that it can never influence the world again. Searching the room reveals no traps or trip wires. Something feels off.
Lysithea: Is this a decoy? This feels too easy.
Gobbles: Hey Surina, you have the ability to sense undead, right? Do you sense any undead and what direction they might be in?
Surina uses her Divine Sense and she feels undead coming from below her, not from this room.
Lysithea: This is not the main event here. This is an event, but not the main event. I think we need to set off whatever is in here and get rid of it before moving on. Hey Patrin, want to come smash some things? Get some experience?
Patrin: Sure.
The scout begins to wake up.
Patrin: If I’m going to smash things he comes with me.
Lysithea: If he does that again I’ll hit him again.
Patrin: That’s fair.
Lysithea, who has completely had it with this scout, explains to him the gravity of the situation. She doesn’t give him all of the information, but explains that if he wants his explorer points he will let the experienced knight go first.
Scout: Sure, okay. Fine.
Lysithea: Because if you do it again I will drag you out of here myself.
Scout: Understood.
Lysithea: So do we let the experienced knight go first or the experienced trap-setter-offer go first?
Draggy: I will!
Draggy enters the room first and walks up to the sarcophagus. He pushes open the lid… and nothing happens. Surina follows after him and looks inside.
Surina: There’s just sand, bones, and an old stick.
Lysithea: Something’s off. I don’t like it.
Surina still feels the sense of undead, but it’s coming from below them, not the sarcophagus. Lysithea (investigation 10) notices that whatever and whoever was in here is long decomposed, having been here for thousands of years. The paintings in this room look more like praise for the jackal. There are people in white robes praising the chaos.
Lysithea: Something’s not right.
Before entering the room Gobbles scrawls onto the doors “Already Explored. Go home now.” Gobbles petitions Bahamut and asks him for guidance (d100 roll 72), but his prayer goes unanswered. Getting no response from Bahamut, Gobbles looks up to the heavens…
Gobbles: Okay, I guess I’ll just wing it!
He cautiously approaches the sarcophagus and turns around to give Lysithea a hesitant thumbs up. The fact that Gobbles is hesitating makes everyone more nervous.
Lysithea: We’re ready!
Gobbles: Let’s see what this does!
He pokes the staff with his finger. Nothing happens. He lifts the staff up and starts twirling it in the air. Nothing happens. He points the staff at the sarcophagus and tries to fire magic through it. Nothing happens. He grabs a handful of the dust and corpse bits and holds it up (medicine 11). Nothing happens, but he notices that there’s more sand in the sarcophagus than anything else.
Gobbles: Hmm, what’s it taste like?
Lysithea: Gobbles, no! Gelatinous cube is okay, this is not!
The scout walks up…
Surina: Don’t do anything bad!
Scout: Is this all there is?
Lysithea: No.
Scout: Can I at least have the staff then?
Lysithea: No. You can draw a picture of it.
Surina: Don’t do anything bad.
Scout: I’m not doing anything bad. But I need the item. If nothing is happening, you just picked up and nothing bad happened…
Lysithea: No. When you find a tomb like this you really should not do the thing that Gobbles just did. This is not it. Something is wrong. If you want to learn, be patient.
Scout: Fine…
Gobbles puts the sand and bits back into the sarcophagus. Lysithea begins feeling on the walls (investigation 10). She reads in the text the praise of the chaos. The shrine was built to honor the chaos.
Lysithea: Maybe we need some chaos.
Gobbles: I have a pretty decent handle on chaos.
Gobbles grabs the staff and tries to double Confetti Blast it in an attempt to pop it in half (attack Nat 1, 14). The first blast bounces off the staff, covering Gobbles in cake batter. The other attack hits the staff, but it doesn’t do anything.
Patrin: You’re trying to break it? Can I try to break it?
Gobbles holds the staff up horizontally in both hands for Patrin to axe it in half. He swings his axe once, but it bounces off of the wood. He prepares for his second swing and the party sees an anger in his eyes, this want and need to destroy something ancient. With all of his might he swings down with his axe and breaks the staff in half, releasing the spell.
Lysithea: That did it!
A swirl of sand starts rising from the crypt, cycling through the entire room. As the sand swirls and buffets their faces Surina and Lysithea are reminded of the magical sandstorm that led them to the sphinx temple (see Session 5). Surina, Lysithea, and Draggy get knocked prone. Gobbles, the scout, and Patrin are standing still. (Constitution saving throw Gobbles 4, Lysithea 16, Surina 17) Gobbles and Patrin become stunned. Lysithea is the first to notice that all of her magic is completely useless – this is an anti-magic field. Everything but the mysterious dagger has lost its magic.
Suddenly, a giant hand rises from the crypt and grabs the scout. The hand disappears back into the crypt with the scout, and the sand vanishes. The room has returned to normal, and the magic has returned to the room. There’s nothing but sand and bones in the sarcophagus.
Surina: That’s what happens when you release ultimate danger!
Gobbles: Go in after him!
Patrin: That’s the plan!
He runs and dives into the sarcophagus and bangs his head. He pushes the sarcophagus hoping to find a hidden passage, but there is only the solid stone of the stairs underneath. (Arcana Lysithea 21) The magic that took the scout is coming from below, the same place that Surina senses the undead.
Lysithea: We need to find the way down.
The party resumes searching the room, but Patrin begins banging and beating on everything. His smashes reveal a hidden panel that opens to a stairway leading down. As the panel slides open the paintings of priests that were praising the jackal are now pointing down the stairway. Surina feels the strongest sense of undead she’s ever felt coming from below. Draggy and Surina walking side by side lead the way down the stairs.
Lysithea: I really wish the others were here.
Gobbles: At least we don’t have to worry about the kid running into danger.
Lysithea: I should have knocked him out sooner…
The sandstone that makes up the place is immaculate. The stairs lead down to a room with sarcophagi standing up vertically. Draggy bravely enters the room first. As he walks in, a mummy emerges from one of the sarcophagi. It is not close enough for Draggy to axe, so he fires a crossbow at it (attack Nat 1, Nat 20). The crossbow jams at first, so Draggy smacks it a couple of times, releasing the arrow straight into the mummy for 7 damage. The mummy steps forward and tries Dreadful Glare at Draggy (wisdom saving throw 15), but Draggy hides his face behind his shield, rendering the attack useless. The mummy moves in to physically attack Draggy, but he deflects with his shield. Surina runs in to defend her brother and slashes at the mummy (attack 18, 17), dealing a total of 17 damage. Lysithea moves into the room and shoots Fire Bolt at the mummy (attack 22) for 14 fire damage. Another mummy emerges from another sarcophagi. Gobbles scurries in and uses Green Flame Blade (attack 14), dealing 6 bludgeoning and 6 fire damage to the mummy. The mummy goes up in flames. Another mummy emerges from a sarcophagus and attacks Lysithea with Dreadful Gaze (wisdom saving throw 22), but the attack has no effect. It then hits Lysithea for 9 damage (constitution saving throw adjusted 20) and nothing more. Lysithea reacts with Hellish Rebuke, dealing 8 fire damage to the mummy. Patrin, who was already angry, sees the situation and rages. The wild magic barbarian will deal force damage to anyone that attacks him. He recklessly attacks the mummy, his axe shimmering as it deals 15 damage. A mummy attempts to frighten Surina (wisdom saving throw 12) and hit her, but she is easily able to dodge the attacks.
(Dexterity saving throw Gobbles 16, Lysithea 15, Surina 15, Draggy 16) The ground turns to sand and begins to form into a whirlpool, pulling everything towards the center. The party is able to resist, but 2 of the mummies are dragged into the center of the room. Draggy swings his axe at one of the mummies (attack 16, 22) for 25 total damage. The mummy attacks back, hitting Draggy for 8 damage (constitution save 15). Surina slashes at a mummy (attack adjusted 20, 10) hitting once for 12 damage. Lysithea shoots Fire Bolt at the mummy right in front of her (attack 11) for 9 fire damage. Gobbles takes some steps back and double Confetti Eldritch Blasts at a mummy (attack 18, 24). His colorful blasts hit for 11 damage total. The mummy by Lysithea attempts Dreadful Glare (wisdom saving throw 12) but fails. It then decides to punch her, but Lysithea is able to dodge the attack.
Lysithea: What? That’s crazy! That’s happened twice now!
Patrin takes a swing at the mummy in front of Lysithea and kills it with one slash. He moves towards the mummy by Draggy and slashes at it. The mummy by Surina attempts to Dreadful Glare at her (wisdom saving throw 14), but she still stands brave. It takes a swing at her, but its feeble attack makes Surina laugh as it bounces off of her armor. (Constitution saving throw Gobbles 15, Lysithea 11, Draggy 21, Surina 11) Surina and Lysithea become blinded as a sandstorm erupts in the center of the room. The swirling whirlpool is now a spiraling vortex of sand, and all magic is now rendered useless. Lysithea, however, still feels a magical pulse coming from the mysterious dagger.
Lysithea: I am so sick of sand!
Draggy, who can see just fine, attacks the mummy in front of him (attack 24, 19) for a total of 14 damage. Draggy roars in triumph as he defeats the mummy! Surina is blinded, but she swings at the area where she thinks the mummy is (attack 22, 15), hitting twice for 16 total damage. Lysithea is blinded and cannot use her magic because of the room, so she fumbles her way over to the corner to get her grounding. Gobbles, who can see, moves in to flank the mummy.
Gobbles: Hey, buuuuuddy.
He smashes the mummy with his warhammer (attack 18) for 7 damage. Patrin’s rage continues, but the wild magic has ceased due to the effects of the room. He attacks the mummy and those that can see notice there’s no glimmer or shine this time. He slashes at the mummy, dealing it a significant amount of damage. The mummy cannot see so it cannot do it’s glare. It swings wildly where it thinks Surina is, but does not hit her. (Dexterity saving throw Gobbles 7/7, Lysithea 13/Nat 20, Surina 12/11, Draggy 10/5) The cycling vortex of sand becomes a swirling whirlpool again, sucking everyone into the center of the room. Everyone except Lysithea and the mummy are knocked prone. Surina and Lysithea can now see, and magic has returned to the room. Draggy stands up, but does nothing more. Surina remains prone and tries to chop at the mummy’s legs (attack 11, 13). She hits the mummy twice for 13 total damage. Lysithea is standing with a clear shot of the mummy. She shoots Fire Bolt (attack 13), and the mummy goes up in flames.
Will the party be able to save the scout and stop the evil spirit from being released? End Session.
Check Out
Spotlight on Another Player:
- Miranda: Victor both for playing and for being upset any time he rolled anything besides a 10 even if it was better than a 10.
- Kevin: A tie between Cordelia and Miranda. Cordelia for Surina’s Rules and Miranda for booping the kid over the head after he made all of his horrible decisions.
- Cordelia: Kevin for when Gobbles wrote on the door that this area has already been explored.
- Justice: Kevin for “If anyone is going to get us killed it’s going to be me!” Also Cordelia for Surina’s Rule: Kids do not release danger.
Challenge/Something Learned:
- Miranda: My challenge was I actually do not like the kid explorer character. Like, I actually despise this character. He made things difficult.
- Kevin: Breaking dangerous seeming things doesn’t always solve the problem.
- Cordelia: I need to make rules for when future explorer’s join us.
- Justice: I didn’t think this kid would be hated as much.
Hope or Prediction for Next Session:
- Miranda: I know how you planned the boss battle and I’m really looking forward to it.
- Kevin: Finding out whether the kid is going to survive and learn his lesson or become the cautionary tale.
- Cordelia: I hope we are able to stop evil from being unleashed upon the world.
- Justice: The continued fun of this dungeon.
Analysis: This was an incredibly frustrating session due to the scout character; however, Victor and Cordelia made it so much fun! This was the most Cordelia has ever roleplayed in a session. At one point we thought she had shut down, but she was actually writing Surina’s rules for being a good explorer! We were blown away at her creativity and critical thinking. She only wrote 4 of the rules during the session, and ended up writing more later. We have realized with Victor that he is more likely to play when there are less people present. We aren’t quite sure why that is, yet. It could be because he feels overwhelmed when there’s more people, or that he feels he can be the center more when there’s less people, or some other reason. No matter what the reason is, we were very happy he played today. He had us in stitches, but not intentionally. He really wanted to roll the number 10 and would get upset if he didn’t, even if the number was higher than 10. It was just adorable. Victor has no problem roleplaying combat and makes epic sound effects and acts out his attacks, but what made us proud was when he wanted to lead. More than once he wanted to be the one to go in first. I’m hoping he’ll be more willing to play with us in the future because he’s so much fun.