[Gameplay] 5. Best Left Buried

Tabat carefully, slowly removes his pack and rummages inside before pulling forth the gold funerary mask they had found previously. "Here, Spectacular One. In exchange for a part to this machine we seek. The best part: this thing we seek, we need only replace to where you found it and use its power to remove this evil presence from your home. Then, you can simply return and take the part back for you collection. Not only will be enriched materially, but also we will be doing something worthy and good for your home and the homes of all this in Wati."

"Oh, I love gems and jewels, but not so much for gold. That doesn't look like it's worth very much. No, if you want my pretty bauble, then I want at least .... 1,500 gold pieces of shiny."

"A small price, to be sure, magnificent one. But perhaps a bit more than we have readily available. Could we persuade you to take the mask now and let us return with other shinies after we deal with this menace?"

Tabat speaks up at seeing less than desirable reaction from the dragon, "What my friend means to say is, we just don't have that kind of money, but we also don't have the time to get it. Not for this. We are not thieves, or murderers - we have no desire to relieve you of this treasure. Yet surely, someone so resplendent as yourself could temporarily part ways with something for only a short while? You could follow us to observe us leaving it in the device and leaving.

She is unmoved by your pleas for charity. "No. You want it, you have to pay, or trade for it. I'll not part with such as it for your crude mask."

She eyes you with a sparkling glint. "You have magic. Perhaps you would trade something else of value?"

As the others speak Khadi is carefully makes her way down the rope, catching the tale e d of the conversation as she finally makes it to the ground.

Tabat nods and rummages through the haversack, pulling out an assortment of gems and trinkets, looking up to the dragon to try and gauge its reaction. Once he feels the dragon may be satisfied, he stops, closes the bag and looks up expectantly - a small pile of shiny baubles and stones on the ground before him.

"I never did ask your name, great one. I am Tabat Menes, Paladin of Horus. I would care to know your name, if you would honor me with it," Tabat asks while offering the pile of gems and jewelry.

She nods at the respect. "I am Shardizhad. I am pleased to do business with you. If you have more of those pretty gems and jewels, I'd be happy to take them from you at 10% more than market price in gold. Please do come back, adventurers. "

"That is gracious of you, Shardizhad," he says, "And thank you for the trade. I for one will make a point to save any beautiful gems we come across for you." He smiles and bows again, deeply and respectfully. "Now, if we may - I'll take the item we came for and we will do what we can to bring peace to the town, and to this necropolis. Thank you again."

Having purchased the mechanical components from the friendly but treasure hungry crystal dragon, you return to the shop where the rest of the compass lies.

You can attempt to repair the device, which is large and delicate and can’t be moved from the Shiny Bauble without several weeks’ work. The elegiac compass is too complex and powerful (CL 12th) for you to repair magically with spells such as make whole, so you must attempt to fix the device manually. Doing so requires 2 hours of work and a successful DC 15 Craft (clockwork) or (jewelry) check, or a successful DC 20 Spellcraft check.

Tabat sighs while standing over the complicated machinery. "Hells, I talked the dragon into parting ways with this thing, but I realize I have no clue what to do from here."

'..Okay I have no idea where to start with this.' Khadi looks at the device uncertain. 'I can ask Khepri to bless some who can though, guide their hands as he does the workers.'

Jaware would gladly accept some Guidance and then rolls up his sleeves.

Once repaired, the elegiac compass points a straight line through the necropolis, but without other compasses to triangulate the signal, you only know that the source of the ka pulse lies somewhere along that vector.

You mark the direction on your map. It draws a line from your location L through M, N, O and P.

"Well, that points us in the right direction, at least," Tabat says. "Should we continue on to these Xotl? or follow the path this compass is pointing us toward?"

There sis another compass near the xotl no? It may help us pinpoint exactly where we are looking for, while we can talk to them?'

The elegiac compasses are at: G (crushed), K, L (just used), M, and O. The Xotl are at Vizier's Hill, Area I.