The Wayfarer's Inn

After a few moments of searching, a secret door seemingly opens by itself - at least Eilkhan didn't notice that she accidentally used some mechanism.

A huge chamber with a peaked ceiling lies before you. It is 70 feet across and 40 feet wide; the ceiling reaches to 40 feet at its top, tapering in all four directions to 10-foot height at the walls. The usual hieroglyphs cover the lower walls, and many stone statues of strange deities line the walls, accompanied by the expected ones of Set, Sobek, and other Dark Ones. The floor is of black onyx, polished smooth.

Nine columns dominate the place, all reaching from floor to ceiling. Each of the outer four is 4 feet in diameter and almost 20 feet tall, made of dark green stone. Each of the inner four is 6 feet across and almost 30 feet tall, made of black-gray granite. And in the center of the room is a massive column a full 10 feet in diameter and 40 feet tall, made of deep red sandstone.

As far as you can tell without entering the room yet, the pictures and texts on the walls praise Rahotep and Set, recounting the vile and wicked deeds of the former and raising prayers to the latter. Some even seem to display magical formulae for preserving and protecting the mummy, the tomb, and the name of Rahotep.

Without entering the chamber, the area directly behind the huge red pillar remains hidden from your view.


Rahotep's Tomb.PNG [ 1.77 MiB | Viewed 3340 times ]

Sol, holding the spear in his left hand and his sword in his right, will study the contents of the room from his position near the door. As he does so, he will pay attention to the sword's detection of magic coming from the room...

Ahi activates the power of his amulet, and immediately notices the central pillar pulsing with nebulous energy, both magical and evil. Sol can confirm that the central pillar is magical, plus Tizona notices a general magical aura being present throughout the chamber.

Two sets sets of bas-relief hieroglyphs on the central red column now become apparent to Ahi, both appearing to be inset into it, like buttons. The one on the left (as seen from the entrance), reads:

"By such Powers as this does The Set Rahotep descend to the rightful depths of His deserved realm."

The one on the right reads:

"Here were glad those Under-Priests of Rahotep who saw His Greatness safely placed in this Eternal House."

Immediately after entering the vaulted chamber, a feeling of unease takes possession of Ahi. Circling around the central pillar, he sees a shrine of onyx come into view. Going even further, he sees a wooden shrine within the one made of stone. Canopic jars with demonic heads stand at the corners of the wooden shrine, resting upon small coffers of ivory.
Everything looks exactly the same as in the Burial Chamber with the lightning-quick mummy inside the many sarcophagi. There's even a doorway painted on the opposite wall, although this one shows neither human-headed vultures nor skeletons on thrones, but another inscription:

"Joy forever in this Eternal House, as the name of The Set Rahotep endures forever amongst the living.

Stay, Shadow of Rahotep, to make the Body whole; Fortunate, double, to dwell in such splendors this tomb; Here, Heart, you will know joy and wisdom endless; Fly, free soul, to bring thy will to the heavens. Grow, power, so that each other might increase; Walk amongst the stars, liberated Spirit of Rahotep. Glorious new being, exist and vanquish all thy foes."


Great Chamber.PNG [ 369.57 KiB | Viewed 3323 times ]

Ahi stops where he is and relays everything he sees to the others, replacing Rahotep's name with "the evil one". He's not touching anything, or moving, remembering the other encounters until everyone else is ready and we've got a plan.

Gaderon moves into the room but just behind the Ahi who seems the furthest in. He begins studying and trying to decipher any of the many odd and magical seeming things within but stays within arms length of Ahi.

Particular interest is in the shrine, the Canopic jars, the small coffers of ivory, the many sarcophagi and finally the inscribed doorway. He takes his time on each one in order of approach and while reading or examining is attempting to decipher any sort of clues from them. Gaderon however does not leave the side of Ahi as he explores.

Sol will move into the chamber, with his sword in his right hand and the spear in his left hand, placing himself near Ahi and in a position to protect Gaderon and anyone else who has entered the room from any new danger that might arise from the shrine.

With unusual eagerness, Ivid will follow Sol, while he waves Elmo to follow.

There's nothing new for Gaderon to discover that hasn't yet been found by Ahi and his magic talisman. Now there might be more inscriptions on the sides of the wooden shrine, but Gaderon would have to get real close to be sure.....

Keeping his eyes on the shrine, "Let's all keep close in here. Shall we check the room out before checking the shrine?" He asks hopefully.