[Gameplay] 2. The House of Pentheru

"I agree, Jaware," Tabat says as they walk, "We should remain wary. Some devilish creature is likely still ready to spring on us."

'A sadistic one at that, with it arranging the heads as it did. And its got 7 new targets. I vote I get to the be in the middle of the group.' Khadi keeps up her cheerful tones, as if they weren't discussing a necromancer or creature that cut of heads.

'Well if we are all to be a group we should fill you all in. There were definitely undead here. I'd love to say we got them all, but unlikely, especially as something seems to have had a penchant or killing and taking the heads of what I can only assume are tomb robbers. No-one else would have reason to be in the city. Don't mind the wailing voices you set off, its just a haunt. I hope to try and figure out how to lay the spirits of this house to rest once we have cleared it out. ' She gives the newcomers a wink, before heading to follow Tabat.

...bewilderdly Drak'wa looks up at Archibald "the madam Duskwalker seems a bit...erm...cheery regarding the undead and floating heads" he wispers to him. Addressing the group "Right, regarding the 'story so far' as it were, could you, briefly list your groups accomplishments, current endeavors, and end goal. Although I've mostly worked solo, im trying to turn over a new leaf, as it were and would be glad to be of assistance. Also what order shall we proceed in? This place is narrow and dark and probably best to explore in a line or in a line of pairs. As we press forward, someone could fill us in." Drak'wa seems a bit shook up that walking dead and floating heads are the norm, but channeling the spirit of his grandfather, he regains his composure, determined to be a real member of a team, thus shaking off any fears.

'Tabat and Iseret have been going at the front. Iseret is good at seeking out traps, and Tabat gets hit so the rest of us don't. Jaware has been the rear guard as he can shoot over us. I stick to the middle as I like my organs. You guys can slot in where you feel. We have been taking this slowly, though this place has less traps than the last. Manufactured traps at least...' Her cheerfulness breaks for a second as she looks slightly caught in thought recalling what they had found so far.

'Something bad happened here, bad enough the spirits are still restless. There have been haunts, the residents of this house haven't been able to let go of their past, or their moments of death. I am beginning to lose track of the prayers I have said in this place... not to mention there still seems to be *something* killing here. I would ask we try and take it on if we can, rather than let it be free to prey on more people.. even if those people are tomb raiders, no-one deserves to be undead and have their soul condemned. '

She falls silent for a moment before the cheerful demeanour is suddenly back. 'Still we just have to do our best and keep going. Despair doesn't help, and well I came here knowing here would be undead. I can't fight all of them, despite Tabat's praise, nor can I say prayers over every body in this city. Still I can help where I can. '

Getting back to the adventure at hand...

The headless body carries no valuables, other than a gold wedding ring, inscribed in Osiriani with "To Akar from Panhet, Love Eternal."

There are three other rooms on the top floor, then the crypt below the estate to explore.

Tabat kneels and carefully takes the wedding ring and places it into his pocket. "Not for selling," he says, looking up to the others, "There's an inscription - might be I can get it back to the wife. She would-yeah, she would want to know."

Unless there is contradiction amongst the group, Tabat carefully moves to the next unexplored door, allows those more observant than he to clear it of traps, then push the door open.

Exuberant and wanting to be of assistance Drak'wa checks for traps up ahead

Southwest corner room...

The door isn't trapped, or locked.

A large lacquered desk, now in poor condition, sits in the center of this room. Bookcases stand along the eastern and southwestern walls, sagging as if ready to collapse at any moment. Their shelves have fallen out, and the piles of dust at their bases are all that remains of books and scrolls that failed to survive the long years. The lacquered wooden frames of what might once have been divans stretch along the north and south walls, but their upholstery has disintegrated. The single door in the western wall is the room’s only exit.

"Pity that all the works have disintegrated. They probably could have told us a good bit," Iseret says to no one in paticular.

"And the books and scrolls, it always haunts me to see knowledge of the past lost like this," Tabat says as he approaches the desk. He looks it over to see if there's anything of value in it, opening any drawers to look inside.

Drak'wa peers about the room and investigates the objects he cans see. Picking up items and some of them crumbling in his hands. The dust was thick in the air and he had a sense that his grandfather, the great antiquities smuggler must have combatted similar situations. "I wonder what grandfather would think of this," he muttered quietly to himself. "Surely a clue or something of the sort is present that would lead me to bring glory to Osirion," he continued to mutter while picking up and setting objects down that hadn't been touched by living things since they were set there long ago.

Archibald's displeasure is evident from his expression. All those books, all that knowledge, lost, due to lack of simple protection spells. The greatest enemy of books and knowledge is time, and what is the point of collecting books and knowledge if you won't take the necessary precautions?
"The library was most likely for show, evident from the lack of effort to preserve it." he mutters as he begins searching the room for any traps or ancient items he might have missed on first glance.

Skarab looks around actively, but is distracted by a fly buzzing around his face.

'Well they weren't exactly expecting them to be sat abandoned for hundred to thousands of years. Though it is a shame...' Khadi's eyes flash as she plays with the amulet at her neck as she starts to scan it for magic.

With a wistful sigh, Iseret joins the others in searching the room.

With a wistful sigh, Iseret joins the others in searching the room.

Thoroughly you search the room, but find little of interest much less value.

Care to move on? There are two rooms remaining upstairs.

Tabat dutifully leads the group to the next door, waits for it to be cleared and opens it to reveal the room beyond.