The session started with the party standing over the dead bodies of the Ondooie Jakkals in a residential neighborhood near the gate to the Necropolis.
[DM NOTE: the grey falcons did not land, and there was no banter with Felix Traidor as a key player was unable to participate in the session. That encounter will happen at another session.]
The party decided to continue to walk around the Necropolis walls looking for a way in. The party could not help but notice a large brick factory on some small islands next to the wall. They noticed that the buildings had a familiar logo. It was the same logo that was affixed to the wagon that was outside of the Shivering Mirage Inn when the zombies attacked. The logo was for the Brickworks Company.
There were no signs of life in the various closed-up shows, storehouses, and residences, and the party explored. As they continued, they observed that there was a fairly large pile of rubble in the water. It looked as if there might have been a Keep at one point that was completely destroyed and ripped completely apart.
Now all that was left were huge rocks and stones piled so high that they arose from the water and created a “shanty town” rock island area. There were small lean-tos and crude footbridges but no signs of life.
Karwl climbed the wall of the necropolis. Once she was on the top of the wall, she was able to observe that there were two huge hordes of undead zombies and skeletons congregating at the two gates that lead in and out of the Necropolis. She observed the mindlessness of the hordes.
But Karwl also observed other things moving more stealthy and perhaps intelligently in the other parts of the Necropolis.
Karwl hopped back down and briefed the party, and they continued their tour around the Necropolis. They passed sand dunes and an unguarded closed gate. The gate was not in danger of being breached, but it was obvious to their ear that there was a horde of undead on the other side.
As the party continued around, they entered back into a residential neighborhood.
They heard loud, angry voices which sounded like an argument. The party cautiously approached.
As they got closer, they saw a mob of shopkeepers and guards yelling at a middle-aged catfolk man that had a female zombie and two smaller zombies behind him, as if he was leading them somewhere.
After listening to the yelling between the guards and the catfolk, the party learned that his name was H’osep Haahan.
H’osep was pleading with the guards and neighbors to let him take his zombies with, Zo’oe, his wife, and his two zombie children, Da’rcy and C’orn to the Bastet temple because the Queen Reborn had commanded renewed prayers, and he was certain that she would heal his family or allow them to live peacefully without passing over just like it had been in Per-Bastet for centuries.
The guards screamed at him that his family was dead as they had been killed a few nights earlier, and the latest earthquake was not a sign that the Queen Reborn was resurrecting his family, but in reality, was an undead curse. They yelled that his family would soon turn on him and the rest of them when it became dark. H’osep pleaded with them, nearly in tears. Weapons were drawn, and the guards’ tone changed — the party could tell there would soon be bloodshed.
The party listened and decided to avoid the situation as they reasoned that the guards were probably right. As the party left, some guards grabbed and restrained H’osep, pinning him to the ground while other guards cautiously surrounded the zombies.
H’osep wailed and begged the guards to spar his wife and family. Zo’oe extended both of her hands, drawing her zombie children to her breast. Da’rcy and C’orn buried their heads into their mother’s body, their decaying bodies shivering with fear. Zo’oe hissed at the guards in anger. The guards continued to advance, weapons drawn.
The party saw the zombie children fall to the swords, their small weak voices screaming out in fright and pain. Zo’oe swung at the guards, knocking two down, but the others stepped over the downed guards and thrust spears and swords into her.
The party had moved down a different alley and could no longer see the slaughter. But they could hear the repeated sounds of swords slashing decaying flesh and the horrifying wails from Zo’oe. Over the slaughter, they could hear H’osep crying out to his family.
Soon the sounds of resistance were lost and replaced with the sounds of axes landing into decaying flesh. Clearly, the guards and neighbors were hacking the zombies apart. H’osep’s wails, echoing through the alleys, could still be heard as the party moved away.
Belladonna was quiet, as were the others, as they slowly moved away from the massacre.
As the party completed the loop around the walls, they ran into Quasin, who was still continuing to look for Priestess Claire. They called out to Quasin and descended down to them and asked if they had found Claire. They informed the bird that they had not, and the bird flew off to continue the search.
As dusk fell, The party headed back to the Bastet temple and was granted entrance. Inside they found Mistress Henna Mjelidi and Bathael from the Queen Reborn’s court.
The party spoke with Henna and Bathael. Bathael asked again who the party served. When the party asked her, she responded, “I serve the true ruler of Per-Bastet.” The party asked who the true ruler of Per-Bastet was, and Bathael and Henna shared a glance.
After some more banter, Bathael shared the story of Per-Bastet. She explained that many centuries ago, the catfolk built a temple to Bast here, which would eventually become Per-Bastet. The gnolls arrived and built their own temples next to the Bast temples. The catfolk constructed a wall around their small town and temple, and this wall is what is now the Necropolis. Both the gnolls and the catfolk prospered, and their respective populations grew, as did the tensions between the two.
Eventually, a ruler that was acceptable to both races arose and became the first Pharoah, and the two shall towns became one and took the name of Per-Bastet. The name of this Pharoah was Ha’Koot I, and he led a time of great prosperity and growth for Per-Bastet. He constructed an exterior wall around Per-Bastet as well as the numerous temples and palaces within the walls.
Life was good in Per-Bastet, and both the gnolls and catfolk lived in peace.
Then a few months after the Purge, the Queen Reborn and Tiberesh arrived in Per-Bastet. At the time, no one recognized them as Runelords as they did not draw attention to themselves, but after a period of time, once they felt safe, they began to exert their power within Per-Bastet. Soon, Ha’Koot I became aware of them and befriended them. But he soon realized that things were not as they seemed and became morbid and depressed. He instructed his followers to construct a secret tomb in the heart of the Old Per-Bastet city, and he sent others elsewhere to make certain preparations.
Fearing that The Queen Reborn and Tiberesh were poised to eliminate him, he instructed his followers to place a magical mask on his body should he die and then place that mask in his newly created secret tomb.
Just as he feared, the Queen Reborn and Tiberesh moved against him and did, indeed, kill him. His followers carried out his instructions, and they prepared his body and mask according to his instructions.
The Queen Reborn and Tiberesh took over, and soon thereafter, Tiberesh was gone, leaving the Queen Reborn as the solo ruler of Per-Bastet.
Queen Reborn grew in tremendous power after Tiberesh mysteriously disappeared.
Within days of Tiberesh disappearance, the River of Sand sprang up in Per-Bastet, moving towards the great pyramid in the city with angry and dangerous currents of moving sand.
She also explained that Queen Reborn, in order to win over the population, brought a wave of protective magic.
She explained that those that pledged fealty to her were awarded citizenship bracelets which brought them status and protection. Everyone in the city, particularly catfolk, felt a strong sense of pleasure and satisfaction while in Per-Bastet. They felt safe, secure, and happy and attributed it all to the Queen Reborn.
Bathael also explained that Queen Reborn, claiming to be a Goddess, had gained mastery over death itself, and she offered eternal life to citizens of Per-Bastet. When a citizen dies, they do not have to leave this plane. The Queen Reborn’s power allows the dead person to decide whether to stay in Per-Bastet or passover to the Underworld. Over the years, thousands of dead Per-Bastet citizens choose not to passover the Underworld and stay with their families in zombie forms. As you had seen before, the undead were quiet, content, and happy until the grimalkin idol was removed from the Per-Bastet.
Bathael explains that if the party was to help find the missing mask and return it to her, they would be greatly rewarded. Karwl demanded to know what kind of reward, but Bathael would not provide specifics. Bathael explains that when the secret tomb was built, certain markers were placed in the Necropolis. Without that information, no one will find the lost tomb. If the party swears to help, she will provide this information.
Henna explained again that Nassor El’Rabbat and Hakaan-al-Khereen Zmirr Nill Mo Chatoor, the current leaders of the Silver Chain thieves guild, use the Brickworks at their hideout and she also reports that there are secret tunnels from the Brickworks that lead into the Necropolis.
The party asked many questions and learned that many of Ha’koot I’s followers still reside in the city and have been waiting for his return.
Aswan, using the Grimalkin Eye and Idol, was able to dominate Henna, and they discovered that she is loyal to the Queen Reborn because she is charmed.
The party discusses their options and who to believe. The party decided to get instructions from Bathael for the markers and attempt to enter the Necropolis through the Brickworks. Their goal was to find the mask and then slip out of Per-Bastet without giving it to anyone. If they can escape, they discussed heading to the Magaambombya University (pronounced “Ma-Ga-aaa-Bomb-Ba”) to learn more about what happened after the Purge.
The Session ended.