[Gameplay] Part 1: The Lottery & Tomb of Akhentepi

Most of the arms and armor on the racks are mundane items, but Akhentepi’s khopesh and spear are both masterwork weapons. The composite shortbow is still serviceable, but its string has deteriorated, and must be replaced before the weapon can be used. The scarab-shaped steel shield is magic.

The chests are of good craftsmanship but less ornate than the one found in area A6. None of the chests are locked or trapped, but each has been sealed with wax. They contain a sack with a 100 gp and 42 sp, and several scroll tubes holding papyrus records, private memos, expense ledgers, speeches, and private correspondence. Among the papers are discussions regarding the unfinished tomb of Akhentepi’s mistress. There is little else of interest in the papers, but to a collector or Osirionologist, these documents are worth 250 gp total if undamaged. The clay urn is also sealed with wax and contains nard, an expensive, oily perfume, worth 75 gp.

Hearing that the room appears to be otherwise trap-free and safe, Tabat remarks. "Such wonders," he says, eyes wide under his mask, "It delights that we shall bring such wonders to again see the light of the sun, and allow the glory of the old days to be known again. Horus approves." He reaches up and lifts the scarab shield from its bracket, "As would, I think, Akhentepi, to see his tools of war being used to cleanse these lands of evil."

He looks to the others. "I will bear this shield, if no one else will claim it. It remains strong, despite its age." He holds it aloft, inspecting it more closely.

"If you wouldn’t mind Tabat, I should like to take a look at it, in case it has other capabilities. Then I should like to make some notes on all this for when we report back to the Pharasmins."

Bernard is only able to tell that the shield's magic has an aura of conjuration magic.

Iseret searches the walls of the room for secret passages, such as are often found in old tombs.

Gethean resumes his position at the back of the group with eyes and ears open.

Iseret searches the walls of the room thoroughly, but doesn't find any hidden doors or secret cubbyholes.

"Tabat, that shield has an aura of Conjuration magic about it, though I do not yet know to what purpose. I will try again another time when we are less pressed."

"Conjuration?" Tabat says quizzically, "Now that is intriguing. Thank you, Bernard."

He props the shield he arrived with against the wall. "Horus will guide and watch over the dead now," he says respectfully before testing the weight of the new shield. It felt good - he felt like he could sense the magic pulsing through the object, though he knew he was probably imagining it because of what Bernard told him.

He then busies himself with helping the others to distribute the load of the other artifacts and treasure so they can remove it from the tomb.

You move south past the corridor that leads back to the surface, and through the southern doors.

A massive mirror stretches across the southern wall of this chamber, flanked by two statues. The statue to the east depicts a tall, gaunt woman in a flowing, hooded gown, holding an hourglass. The figure to the west is that of a jackal-headed man carrying a scepter or staff in his hand. Stone double doors, standing slightly ajar, lead to the east and west. A third set of double doors exits the room to the north. Torch holders sculpted in the shape of bird skulls are built in each corner, and a thin layer of dust covers every surface.

Iseret studies the gaunt female statue for a moment. "Pharasma, I would guess?" She looks to Bernard for confirmation. "I have no idea who the other fellow is."

Tabat follows closely in behind Iseret, taking in the room's features. "That is Anubis, one of the Old Gods, a God of death," he says, "a fitting consort to Pharasma."

He moves forward into the room but remains a healthy distance back and watching carefully for any sign of wires or pressure plates that might signify a trap. Once he believes it is safe to do so, he will approach and inspect the statue of the jackal-headed one.

The two statues have been correctly identified.

After inspecting the statue of Anubis more closely, Tabat will move to carefully inspect the bird-skull torch holders more closely.

'Looks like luck is on our side with this assignment, with these two watching over one would hope there is no undead in this place. And if there is, well I will happily clean them out for them.' Khadi grins as she goes to both of the statues offering a bow to each. 'We will be respectful, I promise.'

"Hmm, a mirror and statues of the shepherds of death. Symbolism, or is there more at play here?"

Bernard casts Detect Magic and checks over the mirror and statues.

Neither the statues or the torch holders appear remarkable in any way.

Bernard peers into the mirror sees himself (and his companions) reflected back—along with the likeness of Akhentepi as you've seen depicted elsewhere throughout the tomb: a human man with bronzed skin in his forties, wearing white ceremonial robes and a headdress. The reflected images of each of you appear stern and disapproving, regardless of a creature’s actual facial expression.

Detect Magic reveals that the mirror has a faint illusion and transmutation aura.

Bernard talks to himself as he focuses on the mirror to determine its magical properties.

"Fascinating - this mirror has Illusion and Transmutation auras. These spells would have been cast thousands of years ago. I wonder if the magical signature of these effects would have been different at the time of casting than if they were cast now..."

Bernard feels a sharp itching sensation. Please make a Fortitude save.

Bernard feels an unpleasant sharp, itching sensation in his forehead.

He mutters a curse, then feels his forehead, then checks in the mirror.

"Hmmph, I have stolen nothing, this primitive magic lacks the complexity to know such things… Oh, you should probably all avoid gazing too deeply into this mirror.