Cooperative Dungeon IV: Update

[Wycen]

I'm currently working on a puzzle key for the door to room 21 (the puzzle is not mandatory, solving it disables the doors myriad traps, but the door and traps can be bypassed without solving the puzzle).

The puzzle requires assembling keys from several parts, and while I could put all the parts in my other room (room 8), I'd like to spread the keys around. So I'm looking for volunteers willing to insert these keys into their rooms.

What do these keys look like or how big, small, etc. are they? I could add a torch sconce to room 7, in the shape of a raft. If I recall my Egyptian mythology correctly, a raft was the vessel used to transport souls to the underworld.

 

[Phineas Crow]

What do these keys look like or how big, small, etc. are they? I could add a torch sconce to room 7, in the shape of a raft. If I recall my Egyptian mythology correctly, a raft was the vessel used to transport souls to the underworld.

the keys are tiny figurines, see post #98 for an example.

 

[tarchon]

One thing we should probably decide on...

Was the transformation of Toth Nekamek into a demon *planned*, or did something go wrong? Ferret's "Chronicles of Toth Nekamek" imply that it was planned ("these rituals have infernal connections and may involve reincarnated dead as demons"). I was working under the assumption that Toth didn't plan to rise as a demon, and I was planning on having a LN guardian (to fit with the Anubis theme).

So which is it? Which would we prefer to have? What alignment is the Jackal god anyway?

My vague notion was that Toth presumed himself to be a decent LN guy in life and had come to believe that through sheer greatness and favor of the gods he would be resurrected someday, possibly because of some oracle to that effect.
However, after death, he was found not be quite as lawful and neutral as he believed himself to be (mene mene tekel upharsin) and was cast into the abyss by the judge of the dead (quasi-Anubis), where he spent centuries as a lowly larva (or manes - I forget which was which in the MM), and eventually squirmed his way up to babau status. Why the babau is here, for sentimental reasons or perhaps to try to enact some ritual to regain his humanity, I hadn't bothered to work out, since I figured the developing story line was bound to wander substantially as different people filled it in.
The basic effects of this would be that the original tomb would have a typical human-social LN bent but would be corrupted by firstly babau-Toth's CE influence and secondly the (I think?) CE alignment of the gnolls in the outer part, with their own CE demon worship

 

[Phineas Crow]

Phineas, if you have another key to get rid of (preferably a jackal related one), I have just the place to put it.


PS: how long do you think it will take the party to get through the door, deal with the demon, and get back out? I think I'll have #20 start filling up with sand once they slay Yinepu.

no jackals, there is a crocodile, cat, and asp keys left.


I'm not sure how long the battle will take, but I don't think its going to start as soon as the PCs enter, I'm going to let them explore the seemly empty tomb for a bit before launching the attack

 

[Phineas Crow]

[snip] ...Why the babau is here, for sentimental reasons or perhaps to try to enact some ritual to regain his humanity, I hadn't bothered to work out... [snip] [snip]

I like the idea of Toth the babau trying to raise Toth the mummified corpse. It could lead to an ending out of a bad horror flick, when the PCs finally kill the babau and think they are done and begin looting the tomb the mummified corpse in the sarcophagus sits up... Toth Reanimated.

 

[Conaill]

I'll have the croc key in that case.

Where's the babau demon in #21 anyway? Is it still in the sarcophagus? Would make sense if the Babau stage is only a phase in the development towards an even greater demon. I have this image of a babau demon in mummy wrappings as being like a chrysalis in its cocoon. Heck, even the red slimy covering when you peel away the mummy wrappings would fit in with that.

 

[Trainz]

Room 19 is now available.

Jester47, I apologise for knocking it out from you. If it's still available when you see this, you can re-reserve it again.

 

[Wycen]

I like the idea of Toth the babau trying to raise Toth the mummified corpse. It could lead to an ending out of a bad horror flick, when the PCs finally kill the babau and think they are done and begin looting the tomb the mummified corpse in the sarcophagus sits up... Toth Reanimated.

I like that idea too, though I would worry it may over power the party.

 

[Phineas Crow]

I'll have the croc key in that case.

Where's the babau demon in #21 anyway? Is it still in the sarcophagus? Would make sense if the Babau stage is only a phase in the development towards an even greater demon. I have this image of a babau demon in mummy wrappings as being like a chrysalis in its cocoon. Heck, even the red slimy covering when you peel away the mummy wrappings would fit in with that.

Key 5 of 7: Conaill’s Key
Bone Crocodile figurine: A tiny crocodile sculpted from bone with a circular base one inch in diameter. The word “Afa” is etched on the base and it appears that it was made to attach to something.


As for the babau, I plan on having him skulking in the shadows, using his high hide and move silently skills to ambush the party. As for the demon development, remember that the demon is made from the soul stuff of Toth, Toth's mummified body is still in the tomb.

 

[Conaill]

Hey Trainz,

Could you add links to the rooms in your first post, to make it easier to find them? Let's see, I think I got all the ones that have already been posted:

1. Outside the tomb (René Mongrain "Trainz")
2. Entry Hall of the Jackal (Shannon Troester "Thullgrim")
3. Shrine to Hrauk (Shannon Troester "Thullgrim")
4. The Gnoll Barracks (Brian Thompson "Elephant")
5. The small bedroom (Tim Challener "Slife")
6. Elite Gnoll Barracks (Brian Thompson "Elephant")
7. Funerary Preparations Room (Chad Barr “Wycen”)
8. Crypt of the Exalted Ones (H. R. McGlone “Phineas Crow”)
9. Hall of Final Justice (Connor Sites-Bowen)
10. Storage Room (Kris Hulsen "The Forsaken One")
11. Reserved (Alexander P. Y. Fitzhugh "fnork de sporg" - May 25)
12. Reserved (ikazuchi - May 25)
13. Chronicles of Toth Nekamek (Craig Stone "Ferret")
14. The gnoll tunnel disaster (Lance Hewett "Tallfellow")
15. Atrium of the Royal Steed (Ben Buckner "tarchon")
16. The Crypt of Aris (Ben Tiefenback "John Q. Mayhem")
17. Reserved (The Forsaken One - May 23/ext on request)
18. Warped Burial Chamber (Chris Cumming "Erekose13")
19. Reserved (Jester47 - May 23)
20. Reserved (Conaill - May 24)
21. Burial Chamber of Toth Nekamek (H. R. McGlone “Phineas Crow")