Session 002 - Malevolence of Anub-Ka

Before the next chapter begins, our story drifts backward - one week into the lives of our unlikely gathering.   Sharut, ever relentless in pursuit of knowledge, spent his days scouring the city for Khatim's elusive companion. His search bore fruit: the man he sought is Akhmethes Zekhir-Sa, a Master of the Discipline of Flame and high-ranking member of the Shemsu-Ra. In the process, Sharut himself was formally registered in the order, earning access to a modest , a secluded pocked realm suitable for his studies.   Meanwhile, Sahira and Iseni ventured into the vaulted halls of the Obelisk Academy, determined to uncover the cause of the flickering of the flame of their home in Qitta. Their first instinct - heading straight to 'M' for Magic in the library's catalog - proved fruitless. Still, the week was not without its distractions. Within the Scholar Quarter, Sahira found herself drawn to the Consveratory of Beasts and Verdancy, a peculiar zoological collection, where she repeatedly opened enclosures just to pet the animals. After one night staying with Ramiq al-Tahdir, they relocated to Scarab's Rest, an inn in the Dock Quarter - to them a more tolerable dwelling.   As for Ramiq al-Tahdir, ever the host, he extended what courtesies he could to his guests before returning to his own pursuits. The week saw him rekindling old ties, chasing rumours, and seeking those who walk the path of the sandseers. One name surfaced again and again: Bana Bluntbeak.   And finally Tavo "Half-Tail", planted the pot of awakening, taken from Hasina Sebekem's collection in the Abandoned Temple of Talona. His time was then divided between gathering intelligence among the Scarlet Jackals, and earning coin the way he knows best - through songs and spectacle on the city streets.   The group reconvened at the The Gilded Oasis. Ramiq al-Tahdir ordered a round of food and drink for the table. Unmoved by moderation - Sahira promptly secured herself three more glasses of Asiri's Tears, an alcoholic drink that combining juniper berry spirits, cold green tea, lemon juice, and egg whites. Soon after, Bana Bluntbeak made her entrance. Rough around the edges and with a stagger in her step, she slumped into a chair and introduced herself to the party.   Then, the room hushed.   Onto the stage stepped Zehra Greenfire, veiled in silks, to perform 'The Lament of Atenara'. Her voice carried the ache of an empire lost and a queen remembered. When it ended, the group applauded. The rest of the tavern did not. Bana Bluntbeak noted that mentioning the name of Atenara was forbidden, as it was considered offensive to Pharaoh Sethet-Ka.   Seated at the table alongside Bana Bluntbeak was her associated, Samira Ament. A former of the Shemsu-Ra, Samira had been expelled for attempting to steal a green stone known as the Eye of Anub-Ka. She informed the group that the eye was, in fact, an eldritch egg. She explained that a gala was being held that evening at the Bureau of Civic Relics, and requested the party attend. According to Samira Ament, this night would be their only opportunity to steal the Eye before it hatches.   She offered 20 gold pieces each, and the use of her bag of holding to smuggle weapons and armour into the event. The group accepted the quest and created a cover story: they are merchants from the city of Zhinra, acquiring rare treasures on behalf of wealthy patrons.   The group arrived at the Scholar's Quarter just as the gala began. Upon entering the Bureau of Civic Relics, Sahira was immediately drawn to the gift shops, where she spent 2 gold pieces on various souvenirs: a bandanna reading "I went to Obelisk Academy", a "Welcome to Y'Matara" pin, a book of exhibit drawings, and a quilling bearing the Shemsu-Ra insignia. She gifted the pin to Iseni, who placed it proudly over her formal attire.   Tavo "Half-Tail" attempted to purchase the entire stock of miniature Eye of Anub-Ka replicas, but was denied due to their embargoed status. In response, Tavo "Half-Tail" and Ramiq al-Tahdir tried to steal one of the items, resulting in the shop attendant being fired and dismissed. A pair of guards confiscated the box and carried it downstairs.   Meanwhile, Bana Bluntbeak and Sharut had quietly slipped upstairs, avoiding the commotion entirely. The rest of the group eventually regrouped with them in the R13: Gemstone Wing.   As the gala commences, the group mingle among the other patrons. Tavo "Half-Tail" struck up a conversation with a human woman named Velhena Tash’mir, a member of a titled family but with little actual wealth. During their chat, she revealed that she had lost money gambling, and casually suggested that there were gems in the basement worth hundreds of gold. She invited Tavo "Half-Tail" to check it out with her.   Elsewhere, Sahira was demolishing the buffet table when she encountered Frakan-Wa Malket. The curator, Sarathis Yareen, she learned, had a fondness for oversized vintage dolls - one of which, apparently, now sits in her office and has grown to the size of a human.   Iseni wandered the room, inspecting the smaller gem displays but found nothing of interest. She was later joined by Shard of Aramachi, and together they examined the Eye of Anub-Ka. Neither of themn noticed anything unusual.   Bana Bluntbeak moved through the room, listening in on conversations. She overheard only general gossip.   Meanwhile, Ramiq al-Tahdir left the R13: Gemstone Wing and found an imposing allosaurus skeleton. He discovered a hidden panel of buttons embedded in the display. Asking himself, "What would Tavo do?", he pressed the blue button - causing the skeleton to move and emit noise.   A guard rushed over and, without a word, pressed the green button to silence it. He reprimanded Ramiq al-Tahdir, who then asked what the red button did - and, while holding eye contact with the guard, pressed it.   The allosaurus was not merely a display. It was a construct - and upon the press of the red button, it stepped off its pedestal, smashing nearby exhibits as it moved.   Ramiq al-Tahdir attempted to press the green button again, but it had no effect. The construct rampaged through the exhibit hall, down the stairs, into the Scholar's Quarter, and eventually though to the Night Markets in the Great Bazaar of Khetem.   As Sarathis Yareen approached, Ramiq al-Tahdir quickly shifted the blame to the guard Marayam Bikh-Ret, who had been working there for twenty-four years. Despite her long service, Sarathis Yareen summarily fired her. However, she refused to send anyone to pursue the runaway construct.   As the chaos settled, Sarathis Yareen addressed the room. She announced they were seeking funding for further expeditions, sharing that the Eye of Anub-Ka had been recovered from the outskirts of Nefra, and was believed to be part of a necklace once worn by Sekhemtara, Flame of the Holy Sands.   Around the room, guests began to donate bags of gold to support the endeavour. When asked, Bana Bluntbeak replied that her patrons were interested in acquisitions. Ramiq al-Tahdir contributed 10 gold, and when prompted for a name, he gave "Mikra".   Both Tavo "Half-Tail" and Bana Bluntbeak noticed something unusual - Sarathis Yareen carried a mask in her bag. One that was familiar to them.   Tavo "Half-Tail", seizing the opportunity, promised her 1,000 gold pieces in exchange for a private conversation.   Later, Bana Bluntbeak quietly slipped away and made her way toward the R17: Attic. It was unguarded, and she successfully unlocked a window, preparing for potential access. At 10.30pm, the gala came to a close, and the guests were escorted out. The guards locked the entrance using a keycard.   Before the party let, Sarathis Yareen pulled aside Tavo "Half-Tail" and Bana Bluntbeak. Tavo spoke to her in code, and during their exchange, she revealed her mask. The two recognised her at once - she was the Mast of the Obsidian Tooth, one of the three leaders of the Scarlet Jackals. Sarathis Yareen asked Tavo "Half-Tail", who his Fang was, stating that she intended to recommend his punishment. During the interaction, Tavo managed to swipe one of the keycards used to access the Bureau of Civic Relics.   As the party departed, Sarathis Yareen using a crushed gem infused spell to reconstruct the damaged museum front by reversing time. Outside, the party regrouped and met with Samira Ament in a nearby alley, who was still finishing the protective case designed to house the Eye of Anub-Ka.   Once it was quiet, Bana Bluntbeak flew up to the attic window she had previously unlocked, while the others climbed up. Iseni and Sahira scouted ahead but were quickly caught by two guards. Thinking fast, Sahira pretended to be passed out drunk, and the pair were escorted out of the building. Once the guards had moved on, they climbed back up and would eventually rejoin the others.   Tavo "Half-Tail" and Bana explored the hallway and discovered the R11: Unearthed Cafe. Inside, they located a lockboz, which Tavo placed in the Bag of Holding. Continuing through the exihibt areas, they made a plan to steal select items and damage others, to obscure the true motive behind the break-in. They spotted a patrolling guard and quickly hid.   Meanwhile, Ramiq al-Tahdir had found a pair of boxes - one large enough for himself and one for Sharut. He kicked out the bottoms so they could walk while hidden inside. Sahira and Iseni entered the room just in time to see this odd sight. The pair continued into the main exhibit space, where they located an air vent leading into the gemstone room, and broke through.   With the guard now past them, Tavo "Half-Tail" and Bana Bluntbeak continued forward. Inside a gem display, they found a piece of jade nearly identical in size and weight to the Eye of Anub-Ka. They stole it, along with the entire gem collection.   In the gemstone room, Sahira and Iseni found a second gem of similar size, furthering the plan. Ramiq al-Tahdir and Sharut remained hidden inside their boxes.   Tavo "Half-Tail" and Bana Bluntbeak uncovered a set of archaelogical tools, which Tavo took. Bana Bluntbeak discovered a +1 dagger and +1 handaxe inside a jammed, locked display case. She smashed the glass, retrieved the weapons, and moved on.   At the Eye of Anub-Ka pedestal, Iseni and Sahira examined it - it was glowing and growing more active. Deciding they had to act quickly, they attempted the switch. Iseni was slightly too slow, and triggered the arcane locks sealing the room.   Tavo "Half-Tail" and Bana Bluntbeak rejoined Ramiq al-Tahdir and Sharut. Tavo "Half-Tail" tried casting Arcane Whip in the privy to break the wall into the room that the twins were in - but nothing happened. Following a suggestion, the twins replaced the Eye of Anub-Ka, which deactived the locks.   With a revised plan, Bana Bluntbeak and Tavo "Half-Tail" completed the swap successfully using the jade piece they found, and rushed the Eye of Anub-Ka to Samira Ament, arriving only seconds to spare. She then rewarded the group 20 gold pieces each.   As the dust settled, Ramiq al-Tahdir nudged Tavo "Half-Tail", encouraging him to finally ask Samira Ament out for coffee.