The session started with the party taking a long rest at the Bast temple in Per-Bastet. The sounds of the zombie hordes were loud throughout the night.
At midnight, the temple door swung open, and an armored humanoid, fighting off zombies clawing and grabbing at him, entered the temple.
Hacking and slashing at the undead, the armored humanoid called out a spell or magical phrase. A halo sprung above his head, and wings sprouted from his back, and he slammed the door closed. Turning to the occupants of the temple, which included Priestess Bathael and Priestess Claire, Henna, and the party, requested refuge for the night, explaining that the undead were pouring from the city’s pyramids and roaming the streets.
After some introductions, the new arrival transformed back into his natural form – a half-orc and introduced himself as “Baashir Omar Bakhaar Aladeen,” otherwise known as Bob the Blind. Bob the Blind explained (after pulling a receipt from a liquor store first) that he was an agent of SPUR (Society of Preservation of Unusual Relics).
He explained that SPUR are the field agents of the Magaambombya University” (pronounced “Ma-Ga-aaammmmm-Bomb-Bay”). Callin the Magaambombya University “MU,” Bob, wearing a blindfold around his eyes, explained that he was there because Nore had gone missing and had been frat brothers with Nore back at MU, and he wanted to make sure that he could find his friend.
There was lots of banter with the party, and after a long rest, Priestess Bathael and Claire offered healing at any Bast temple free of charge as a thank-you for finding Claire.
They also requested that the party help find the lost tomb of Ha’koot, and they stated that before additional information would be provided, the party would have to offer a pledge to the church of Bast. The pledge was not a magical pledge but a pledge of honor, and, if broken, would result in the breaching party member being black-listed by the church of Bast.
Priestess Claire acted a bit embarrassed and was still weak from her torture. Priestess Bathael placed an arm around her to steady her. With a quivering voice, Priestess Claire said, “feel awful that I was tricked by the Silver Chain to reveal the location of the first marker. They convinced me that the Silver Chain also was on “our side.” She looks left and right to make sure that no one is eavesdropping. “You can’t trust the Silver Chain, they have been infiltrated by the ‘Black La’pin’ and are active inside the Necropolis even now, using the information I gave about the first marker to find the lost tomb.
She went, “The Queen Reborn also has adventurers looking for this lost tomb as well as part of her “Great Hunt,” and we, the true followers of the Ha’Koot, can’t let that happen, but we need your help. Neither Bathael nor myself can enter the Necropolis right now. I am too weak, and Bathael will need to return to the palace soon, or she will be found out. Will you help us?”
There was much discussion amongst the party members. Some of the party members (sans Karwl and Bob the Blind) did not make the pledge, but the others did.
As Nix was deciding to take the pledge, he secretly asked the Rod of Tiberesh if he would help him deal with his father.
The rod spoke in Nix’s head, “I know your father.. what kind of help?”
Nix responded, “to dispose and imprison or kill him.”
There was a pause, and the rod answered, “I am furious with your father, I will help — when I have the power.”
Nix made the pledge.
At this time, Aswan heard in his head from the Eye. Tiberesh said, ” You and I will take care of this, and I will reward you. Get me to the tomb.” Aswan asked why. Tiberesh replied, “Do you want to overthrow the Queen Reborn? If yes, will you help me? I care not for the Lost Pharoah. He was a victim, he can have Per-Bastet back.. help me enter the material plane so I can take down the Queen Reborn. You will be rewarded.”
Priestess Claire said to those that took the pledge, “Find the first marker just inside the Necropolis as you emerge from the secret tunnels from the Silver Chain lair. It is guarded by a magic door which will lead to a chamber and test if you can open it. Only the strongest will survive and get the clue to the next marker. There are perhaps as many as 3 markers. Look for the darklings and their leader Kort. They protect one of the markers. Use my signet ring to let them know you are on “our side.”
The Rod of Tiberesh told Nix, “I have hidden a magic spell book on cooperative void magic in my tomb. It is yours if you restore me.”
The party was puzzled by the term “cooperative void magic,” but Bob the Blind, being from MU, knew that the secret of cooperative void magic was a well-protected secret at the Magaambombya University. He explained that cooperative void magic taught two magic users the ability to link their arcane power and reach into the Void to control incredibly powerful magic, multiple times more powerful than the regular magic on the material plane.
Finally, after a long rest, the party headed back toward the necropolis.
The party was moving towards the Brickworks when they encountered some Jabaal bandits that were harassing some commoners, looking for Zithgar.
Zithgar approached, and the leader of the group challenged Zithgar to a one-on-one duel as Zithgar had disrespected and killed Jabaals assigned to the bridge near the River Nuria.
Zithgar accepted the duel, and the parties (both the Jabaals and the party) spread out to form a semi-circle around Zithgar and the Jabaal captain. They traded blows, but Zithgar got the better of him, and other Jabaals jumped into the fight.
The party joined as well, and spells and weapons were flying. Belladonna cast thunderwave, slamming one of the Jabaals into a house. Aswan and Zephyr attacked one of the Jabaals, and Karwl and Bob the Blind attacked the other Jabaals.
Zephry heard the sounds of creatures approaching from the southwest street.
As the party had the Jabaal’s well in hand (and after 4 straight “Jabaal” jokes, earning Nix DM inspiration), three grey falcons began circling, and a horde of undead approached from the south.
Despite warnings from Belladonna, Zithgar charged into the undead.
The skeletons, wights, and deathlock wight swarmed Zithgar. Karwl rushed in, killing skeletons, and rushed back out. Belladonna cast “Erupting Earth,” killing many of the skeletons and damaging the wights.
The grey falcons landed and transformed into:
— A female creature with red eyes, white sharp claws, and vampiric teeth.
— A bald man with runes on his head, who is holding a staff and wearing robes.
–a well-dress male, with pale, white skin and black hair that is slicked back.
Nix immediately recognizes the man with the black hair as Felix Traidor, a vampire from his father’s city.
“Well, you are a hard one to find,” says Felix. “Your father sends his greetings.”
Felix Traidor
Felix continued, “You are not even going to offer us some refreshments. We have been looking for you for months across the hot desert.” Felix looks longing at Belladonn’s neck, “We are so thirsty, are you going to let us drink from your fairie?”
Nix said, “The only refreshments you are going to get are these left-over Jabaals. Suck on those.”
The session ended.