[Gameplay] 4. The Canny Jackal

The next day...

You awake, rested and recharged and fully healed from the prior days adventures. As you're finishing up your breakfast on the main floor of the Tooth and Hookah, a Pharasmin priest enters. She comes to your table, and gestures respectfully, particularly at Tabat and Khadi.

"The Lady of Graves blessing be upon you," she says formally, and then adds, "My mistress, Sebti, High Priestess of the Grand Mausoleum, requests that you attend her this morning. She needs the steadying hand of an outside voice." She seems reluctant to say more, but you're a charismatic bunch, and adds, "She will confront Nakht Shepses, leader of the Voices of the Spire, regarding the psychopomps released."

Tabat pauses his meal as the priest approaches and explains the summons. "Ah, yes. That is a troublesome thing, seeding more chaos into the city at a time such as this. We shall finish here and I believe we can make our way to her Holiness Sebti promptly." He searches the faces of his companions for a dissenting thought on the matter.

"Settled then, I think," Tabat says with a smile at the priest. "Perhaps we will see you at the temple. We'll leave post-haste." He finishes his food speedily, then gathers his things, ready to go to the temple.

Iseret nods her agreement with Tabat's response and hurriedly gulps down her breakfast as well, eager to get back into action.

Khadi nods as well. 'With what is happening, everyone needs too be on the same page with how to fight this. Hopefully Shepses can be convinced of this.'

You arrive at the Grand Mausoleum, and are escorted to the meeting. Both parties are eager to explain their sides

"My focus is on protecting the citizens from harm. Nakht, you should defer to my judgment."


Nakht says that his preference is for quick, decisive action and Nakht insists that the source of the necromantic uprising must be found before more powerful undead rise from their graves, and only his psychopomps are qualified for such a task.

Neither Sebti nor Nakht has clear authority in such a crisis.

Tabat stands before the arguing leaders, his jaw going from slightly agape to clenched. "Enough!" he says finally. "You stand here, bickering like school children while the city tears itself apart. You both should be ashamed. Now is not the time to determine who holds more sway, we must work together for the sake of Wati and her people!"

Sebti is aware that her words are failing to persuade. "There is no shame, young Tabat, in determining the best course for a difficult situation. We don't know the cause of this undead uprising. The Voice of the Spire wants to unleash the psychopomps, which hunger for the dead. However, they also may indiscriminately attack anyone nearby as well. This is foll."


Nakht counters, "While you hunt and down small packs of zombies, even now greater undead awake inside the necropolis. A wraith came right through the gates, and it was only luck that nearby priests were able to summon a psychopomp who could consume it. You wait for a better solution, but the people suffer while we dither." He sweeps an arm out as if encompassing the city. "How many more need perish before we decide that we need whatever aid we can muster?"

Sebti points back at him, "You're right in one thing, and one thing alone. We don't know what's coming next, but your plan sacrifices the innocent on the belief that you'll kill more undead than citizens."

'Releasing psychopomps isn't a solution either. They may be dealing with more undead, but their is no point in killing the undead if we are left with a city of no civilians.!' Khadi suddenly speaks up unable to stay quiet much longer. 'If you say the casualties are worth it, we don't know what is summoning the undead. The corpse of those the psychopomps kill may just rise and join in and we are even worse of, with more innocent lives lost. We need to find teh infection and cut it out, not just handle the symptons.

"I can't send my priestesses into the Necropolis, we're needed out here. To protect, to heal, to banish."

Ptemenib steps away from a wall where he was listening, and suggests, "What about these fine folks? They're resourceful." He's clearly grateful that you rescued him from the Silver Chain.


Nakht laughs, "Hired adventurers? Against the unknown? That's rich."

Sebti looks at Ptemenib and then at you. "Would you be willing to demonstrate your abilities? If you're willing of course."

"What would be required of such a demonstration?" Iseret asks cautiously.

Nakht sends a runner. "Face a psychopomp. If you defeat it, then clearly you're the people for the task at hand. If not, then the Voice will assume control of the situation."

"Hah!" Tabat laughs, actually unable to control himself. "Bring this challenge. We will defeat it handily, though this is a silly way to settle yours squabble. Once we show you our worth, perhaps then you would deem a better use of time to actually help rather than waste what precious minutes we have."

Within two minutes, a fiendish looking creature, and two esoboks, teleport into the temple. It's a tall, skeletal figure wearing a vulture-like mask and a ragged cloak of gray feathers.


"This is Ajin Ra Baqa, a vanth that has long been an ally of the Voices of the Spire. If you can defeat our best servant and his war dogs, then I will accept the Destined Delvers in place of my psychopomps. This battle should be fought only until the majority on one side are unconscious, let's not go too far now and do permanent harm to each other." He stands back to watch the show, his furrowed brows showing that he is more than a little concerned at your fate.

Ajin Ra Baqa settles the scythe into his arms and prepares. His wings bunch behind him and its likely that he will take to the air during the duel. His two esoboks lower themselves in the way predators do, ready to pounce.

Tabat readies his Adamantine heavy flail, hoping it will best the creatures, and stands ready.

Jaware gets his Adamantine arrows ready and tries to recall what he knows of these beings, but comes up short.

Khadi clearly looks apprehensive at the suggestion. They were meant to be on the same side, not wasting resources and energy on one another. As both sides begin to gear up she whispers into her symbol 'Khepri, lets end this quickly so we can focus on the important things.' Holy energy burst out of the amulte to surround the other delvers as she takes her usual place in the back studying the psychopomps.

Iseret palms her blade and prepares herself to move to a more advantageous position.

With an uncertain tense moment passing, you erupt into motion.

Iseret attempts to slip behind Ajin Ra Baqa. Successful or not, she will strike with her shortsword.