"To help a man of evil move into the afterlife, after he was willing to kill so many with the death of famine via a curse to his own land because they were unhappy with his own taxes." She says as she slowly walks up to the others. "The only way I would do such a deed is if you feel any sort of remorse for your deeds at all spirit."

"She has a point...and I was right about it being a specter! Have we not released enough eternal evil into the world already?" Vander points out.

At Sakinah’s approach the specter turns once again and repeats,

Then it turns north-west again and continues its shuffling path.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:23, Sat 21 Jan 2023.

“It seems to want its curse lifted to move on to the after life.. Amun-re hhhmmm?”
Says the doc as he ponders the spectre words.

---

OOC: as a follower of the osiron gods (Ra being my god) do I know of this king or how these divine curses work?

In reply to Dr Rajeed (msg # 14):

"Yeah, I'm sure he does. But he was sorta a monster. How do we know we are just not releasing him from being trapped so he can go out and huant the whole world? And now be able to effect it..." Vander rubs the back of his shaggy head.

"Let's go investigate this and let his gods judge him." She said flatly. "Perhaps there is something there worth having."

...

---

OOC: Doc roll a religion check for me.

"By golly I might remember this chap."
Says Doc scratching his beard.

---

16:18, Today: Dr Rajeed rolled 31 using 1d20+15.  Religion.

Doc

The doc after pondering a short time breaks into a sermon for his fellows.

"By golly my fellow adventurers, stories of this fabled curse are written in the holy scriptures, for the words of the righteously wise and great Ra say.

So it was that Osiris came to his grandfather Ra, showing him the respect due to Ra's exalted status he asked Ra the wises ones advice.

"Grandfather Iam perplexed. I have made promises to the pharaohs over the lands through which the mighty river Athis runs. Now the last of their line calls down a curse on their people under his stewardship, in my name. Though it pains me I am bound to fulfill it. The waters of Athis must cease. I do not wish to do this but even we gods are bound by higher laws. What can I do?"

The holy Ra smiled at his troubled grandchild saying,

"If you are bound to fulfill that curse then it must be done, but this doesn't mean conditions cannot be set that would break it or alter its intentions. If this foolish pharaoh will punish his people, make sure he is punished equally. Set conditions that will break both curses upon him and his lands that he may learn from his erroneous ways."

Osiris did as his grandfather suggested placing a way to break the curse called down by the foolish ruler on his people, but alas the condition he placed upon the pharaohs was not easily met for the pharaoh had been very cunning. Even to this day the curses remain unbroken. So sayeth the scriptures.

There has also been mention of these "Stargems" but I cannot remember the whole set of verses.

When the Evil walks our land again,
Will Nomadic princes come to Set.
His power into his first bride’s hand,
That good and evil then are met.
Then as needs be,
The Star Gems three.
To my tomb be borne hither,
And a hope shall not wither.
Open the gates to my sphere of power,
And put off evil in its appointed hour.

All interesting stuff but if this is the same curse my holy texts speak of there may be a chance to free not only this tortured soul but to free the river of Athis as well.""

The doc seems excited by the news of perhaps making up a little for the evil that you all released.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:16, Sun 15 Jan 2023.

Lupine was, as per usual, ready to let the others approach the specter before stepping closer himself.  While he would support them in what he viewed as their folly, he didn't see fit to rush in headlong.

After listening to the doctor's fable, Lupine glanced over at the ghostly pharaoh and made a disapproving sound from behind his scarf.  "There is but one lesson to learn from this fallen spirit; one must aspire to serve, never to rule.  Though perhaps the trappings of that one's station may suffice to end the fire spirit unleashed by our hands."

In reply to Dr Rajeed (msg # 20):

"You would think the gods would just keep innocent people from suffering rather than just punishing the jackass killing them. But then, gods never made any sense to me which is why I steer clear of those lunatics in the first place." Vander pointed out.

"I say chaps do you think that the evil the poem speaks of could be the efreet we "accidently" released?... If it were then we would be obliged of course, to go unto this dead pharaoh's tomb and remove from it all the treasure we can find. This would of course be in the hopes we also find this "Stargem" and can thwart the great evil that's been released into the land again... On the other hand, if we are not the ones destined to battle the evil we released, then this chaps tomb could be ours too. Either way it is sure to be a jolly good showing, dying in a grand adventure as dastardly tomb raiders or living as heroic saviors of the land that did what they need to for the benefit of the people. Exciting What what."

Says Doc chortling a little with his incessantly can-do positive adventurer attitude.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:35, Sun 15 Jan 2023.

The specter shuffles through the sand heading off to the north-west. A dark shadow falls over your group causing you all to look up. Is that a rain cloud?! You all turn to the southeast and rolling in from the dawn horizon are dark bubbling clouds. You can all smell a dampness in the wind, it is tinged with something else hard to pick. The wind is picking up. Blowing harder now and driving the dusty sand before it, stinging exposed skin.

---

OOC: if you have Alchemy, please make a crafting check

Lupin.

The idea of water falling freely from the sky should have been a comfort in the parched heat of the endless sands.  Instead, it sent the wrong kind of chill up Lupine's spine.  He made a gesture to ward off evil, then gestured at the clouds as though the superstition would somehow ward off the storm.

"This one dares not brave that cloud.  All protection against the corrosive waters were destroyed by the fire demon."  He cautioned, already preparing to head a different way.

The rolling storm herds your group erringly to the northwest after the specter. For hours you seem to be rushing as fast as you can through the sands heading northwest. The storm is almost on top of you when it comes into view. There in the midst of the vast desert sands, the last relic of a dead civilization stands before you. Surrounded by the broken foundations of a once mighty city, the great pyramid itself rises up from the sands, looking barely touched by time. It is 745 feet square at the base and rises to a height of 700 feet. The pyramid’s four surfaces face the points of the compass. Surrounding the pyramid is a wall 5 feet wide and 20 feet tall. A temple structure is attached to the south face of this wall. It is the only existing way through the pyramid’s wall. Stairs lead up to a platform in front of the temple’s entrance. Behind the temple, running up the south face of the pyramid, a stairway rises 50 feet up to a platform and an opening into the pyramid. The first drops of rain begin to fall and when they touch your skin it burns like fire currently it is only a mild spiting, but heavy rain is on the way.

---

OOC: Everyone takes 1 point of damage.

With the storm rolling in your group faces a new obstacle. Soon the havens will open, and Lupine has already warned you all that the storm doesn't seem natural and staying out in it doesn't seem like a good idea. Before you are 2 places to get out of the rain first is the temple that is part of the wall that surrounds the pyramid proper and the second is the pyramid proper which you will need to get over the wall or go through the temple to get too. Both are before you as your group is approaching from the southeast.

What are you going to do?
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:24, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 27):

"REMIND ME AGAIN WHY WE ARE DOING THIS!? BECAUSE TAKING THE WORD OF A DEAD MASS MURDERER DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A SMART BET!" Vander yelled over the storm, and glared at the good Doctor. He rolled his eyes and headed for the stairwell, looking to get to cover as fast as possible.

OOC-As a tailed goblin I get a lot of bonuses when climbing. Would that help in this situation, or do we all just head for the stairs?

In reply to Vander of Clan Fivetail (msg # 28):

"It seems like we don't have a choice my good chap! This storm is coming and there is only one place to go... Good times eh, a bit of adventure, jolly good yes! Tallyho!!"

The good doctor shouts over the storm and he runs down the dunes toward the front stairs. He seems to have forgotten that this is eerily similar to in both attitude and what he was saying to you Vander, before you and he got thrown in prison back in Azir. The result of that was getting sent into this blasted desert. The Doc though wise seems to have that cavalier adventurer spirit that will always get those around him in trouble. :)

The rain is coming down harder by the time you reach the broken lime-cement basin, 100 feet in diameter, rimmed by a beautiful but worn mosaic, with no apparent openings in the bottom lies before you. The dried basin empties into a deep channel that cuts a path into the desert ground to the south. The rain is causing the dust to become mud by now. As you all slip and slide your way past the basin the stairs to the temple not more than 500yds ahead of you.

---

Everyone takes 4 damage from the acid rain as you run.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:23, Sat 21 Jan 2023.

"YOU SAID THE SAME BLOODY THING IN THE AZIR DUNGEON! RiGHT BEFORE THEY LEFT US IN THIS FORSAKEN BLASTED PLACE TO DIE!" Vander roared over the storm. He was still scrambling to get to cover.

OOC-is the sand effect by the acid rain? If we buried ourselves deep enough could we survive? I could use a breathing tube and angle it so the rain does not go down it into the user's throat.

You all continue to run reaching the base of the stairs up to the temple. The temples stone walls are worn by time. Yet are still quite solid and sturdy. There are no windows in the temple walls and only one entrance, behind a platform, shaded by a roof held aloft by two 10' diameter pillars. A dual staircase leads up to the platform. The temple’s roof is capped by a large dome. You all mount the stairs, hurrying up toward the arched entrance as quick as you can seeking to get under the roof overhanging the entrance. But barely part way up the stairs you are challenged by two dervishes that stand guard at the arched entrance to the temple.

Intruders! What are you doing here at the most holy temple of Amun-Re?

The desert language is not one you are all fluent in, but is close enough to common, that the two desert warriors can be understood behind their face coverings though their accents are thick. They both carry talwars drawing them as soon as you mount the stairs.

---

OOC: @ Vander the acid has no effect on non-living materials as it seeps through your clothes it burns your skin your arms and armor are completely unaffected by this cursed rain.

Oh and you all take another 4 hp damage.
09:55, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 2d6.  Acid rain.

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Sat 25 Feb 2023.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 32):

"Oh we are sightseers who love your temple so much we wanted to paint it...or...WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE DOING!? WE ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE ACID BLOODY RAIN!" Vander said his voice going from flase sweetness to enraged panic very quickly.

One guard glances to the other unsure what to do finally saying,

“Infidel come out of the rain, but no further! Or by Amun-re’s wrath we will send your souls to the under realm.”

The guard whispers out the side of his mouth hard to catch but the most perceptive of you do,

“Yasim, call the faithful. Infidel grave robbers have come to desecrate the holy place of Amun-re.

As one of the guard’s dash beneath the ancient arch into the temple, you make it to the cover of the platform atop the stairs. The dervish guard who first spoke holds his talwar ready, and a hand up for you to stop. In a intimidating tone he says,

“That is far enough infidels! Why have you come to this holy place of Amun-re?”

---

OOC: he tries to look as intimidating as possible  but he is out numbered 5 to 1
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 01:05, Mon 23 Jan 2023.

As soon as he is out of the rain he hunches over and begins walking with a limp and leaning heavily on his staff again. "Why else would we come if not to pay respects or to worship? Hrmm?" He croaks as he he approaches the guard with one eye squinted as though to see more clearly.