Log:The Rock of Death, Part 2

The Rock of Death 2020/09/23 Arthur Aevus Sasha The Eye of Ptah

2

Arthur haven't made a trip to ancient Egypt not too long ago with his occasional companion, Jinxy, he is surprise to hear the name. "Khem still stands, but not in its former glory," he comments carefully as he looks about for the voice's source. He wonders if he should say much more than that to this entity that's admitted its behind this. "You did this? To this whole realm and its inhabitants?"

The masked mage from Earth remains silent while you converse with the whatever the Voice is. You suspect he's Sasha doing something, but if so, it's very subtle.

The Voice says in that same odd reverberating voice, "Did I do what?...Oh, you mean kill everyone. No, no I did not. Even if they did deserve it for entrapping me. No, that was the work of the Tso-Neogi. Dreadful creatures." The voice sighs. "Nothing I could do to stop the Tso-Neogi. I was still fully bound until the last of the Mercane councillors was dead. Once they were, well, nothing left to do but preserve what I could, no? That's well within my limited abilities."

"The...Tso-Neogi? I'm not familiar with them," Arthur admits, with the impression he might be glad for that. "And whom am I addressing, exactly?"

"Well, in reverse order, I am the Eye of Ptah. Only a small part of the Opener of Ways," states the Voice. "And the Tso-Neogi? As I said dreadful creatures. Somewhat centauroid spider bodies with a long eel neck and head. Spelljamming civilization from an unknown crystal sphere. Conquerors, slavers. Primarily use lifejamming technology to power their ships. Not really to be trusted even by each other."

The Eye of Ptah adds after a moment, "Some are trapped here on the Rock of Bral. Well, their bodies in any case. Raiders who got caught up when I mummified everyone."

"Ptah is a truly ancient Egyptian deity, Professor. In some myths, the creator god and ultimate ancestor of the other gods. He travels the stars and beyond which he helped set in their places," murmurs Sasha softly as he bends near to your ear.

Arthur looks over to Sasha, surprised by Sasha's knowledge. That's very helpful! "They...harnessed a -god-?" he sputters.

"No, just his left eye, Professor. That would be me," says the Eye of Ptah. "I am not aware of how I became separated from Ptah. But I have been here on the Rock of Bral for over two millennia under the control of the Mercane. Well, not for the last 527 years but before then. I power, powered their Gate system, breed the star cetaceans for them as living vessels, and other duties as assigned."

Arthur is floored by that. "Ah. Yes. Of course. Well, there seems no need for you to stay here, then," he suggests, looking to Sasha and shrugging as he pulls a clueless face for a moment. "And the Tso-Neogi left behind are long dead, too? No survivors at all...?"

"No living survivors, correct. Two dozen less one mummified Tso-Neogi still wander the Rock. Somehow they tapped into the weapon they turned on the Rock of Bral. It seems they maintain their existence though siphoning off the life energy in its batteries." The Eye of Ptah sighs again. "Sadly, I am not currently connected to any of the defensive capabilites of the Rock. Only by accessing the Scepter of the Mercane can change that."

Arthur sighs in relief. "Oh, good, no living survivors." A pause. "Oh. Nevermind. That seems somehow worse. Have any other visitors come here since then? If they still pose a danger..." he threatens.

Evan runs a hand over his porcelain face at the Eye of Ptah's words. He then makes a small gesture with one hand and his clothing changes to his normal Harlequin attire. He touches the ring on his gloved right hand and a rune inscribed Colt 1870 revolver appears in his left hand.

The Eye of Ptah states, "Yes, they have killed nearly every being who's landed on or otherwise visited the Rock for the last 527 years, Professor. The Rock of Bral is a prize to be taken, but the mummified Tso-Neogi are extremely possessive of it."

Arthur blinks at the change in Sasha. "Well, that's...handy," he smiles, though he eyes the gun. He looks back and around. "Well, we can't leave them to do that, can we? Where are they now? And how can we access the Scepter of the Mercane to get the defense systems back online?"

"I can only access the sensors in the public areas, Professor. So I can tell you the location of 18 of the Tso-Neogi. The others are in areas not covered by the sensors I can access." The Eye of Ptah falls silent for a moment. "If you take the personal information unit from the briefcase 35 meters from you to the northwest, I can project on a map the locations of all known Tso-Neogi. I've overriden its privacy locks so you can use it. I suggest not accessing the private files. The previous owner was a collector of...obscure mating habits."

"As for the Scepter? It is in the Council chamber lying next to the body of the Chief Mercane Councillor. The Scepter should 'speak' to you once it is in your hands."

Arthur wrinkles his nose and mutters, "Obscure mating habits. Really." He looks to Harlequin and nods for him to follow, then starts heading for the briefcase. Sadly, Kat is a curious sort...she hopes she can avoid peeking.

As you easily cross to the briefcase. Its the one by the environment suit covered being. As you get closer, you can see that the creature inside the suit was some sort of protoplasmic being, now quite withered looking.

The personal information unit blinks as you approach. It looks a great deal in shape like a flattened nautilus shell with softly glowing 'spots' on it.

"Pick it up and press the golden area, Professor. It will project an image showing the locations of the known Tso-Neogi and the location of the Council building. Oh, and you'll need to find a key to the building. I suggest searching Security areas."

Sasha murmurs as he scans the area, "Eye of Ptah, are the mummified Tso-Neogi magickal in nature? Would they show up to a magickal scan?"

"Of course, Sasha. They are undead after all. Your mystical senses should detect them with no difficulties," states the Eye.

Arthur studies the withered protoplasmic being in wonder and some regret. So much lost due to senseless greed. He picks up the PIU and presses the golden area. "Alright. That shouldn't be so difficult," he comments about the key getting. Those could be words he'll regret.

He examines the projected map, frowning briefly at the mention of them being undead. "You are full of surprises, Sasha," he comments while orienting himself to figure out where the security areas are.

Sasha gives a one shouldered shrug as he responds. "I've was born seeing the unseen, Professor, and have cast spells since I was three. I was born for magick." He then chuckles. "And I know how to talk all mysterious and in riddles."

Arthur chuckles at Sasha's answer. "Oh, I like you," he says with a broad, boyish smile. "Let's start with the security area we passed earlier. The path there is safe at least, and it's probably the closest," he suggests as he attempts to pat Sasha on the shoulder as he walks by to head back to the security door they passed.

The image projected by the PIU shows that the Rock of Bral is a roughly ovoid asteroid about 3miles long by half a mile in diameter. You all are near the lower end of the ovoid on the flatter 'top' surface. The Council building is a bit more than halfway up the flat side.

Sasha lets you pat his shoulder as the two of you head back towards the security area. When you get there, you note one of the keyholes for a crystal key. Fortunately, you have two blue crystals and one white one.

Arthur fishes out the crystals he has, trying the white one out first. He lines it up and pushes it in.

With a hiss, the door to the security area opens. Unlike the rest of this place, with a slightly floral scent to the air, this room reeks of old decay as the air puffs out from it. Beyond you can see a number of mummified hippopotamus humanoids dressed in fancy uniforms and bristling with weapons. These are obviously the Giff, the mercenaries employed by the Mercane for security and defense. They are scattered around the large room as if they were assembling, probably to drive off the attack that killed them.

And, at the far end of the room, crouched over a pile of bones, is a Great Dane sized spider centauroid with an eel like neck and head. It's greyish hide has a mummified appearance. It eyes are slightly glowing a dark red as its head whips around to face the door while its body face the other way. It hisses loudly, "Mine! All mine! Mine! Cannot take!"

Much like the Eye of Ptah, you hear this in English, but behind it reverberates another hissing language.

"Oh, that's what's in the air. Its a spell of comprehension. Clever," murmurs Sasha softly.

It appears you've found one of the five unaccounted for Tso-Neogi.

Arthur halts a moment to cover his mouth with a gloved hand at the smell. "A shame that spell didn't make it into this room," he laments. His eyes widen at the sight of the Tso-Neogi. It's unpleasant and nightmare fuel for sure. "I...see. Well, we don't wish to take any of your...pile."

"Taste your life," the Tso-Neogi hisses as its gaze locks onto the two of you. "Take bones. Become mine!" It begins to scuttle forward towards the two of you. It seems it can only mover relatively slowly, about as fast as someone using a walker. But, you do note that its waving two of its four front limbs in an odd pattern.

"It's casting a spell! Get down!" Sasha yells as silver and blue disks whirl into existence around him, moving in intricate, erratic patterns as they 'orbit' him.