Room 7 Building / Landmark in Hellas | World Anvil

Room 7

The secret door slides open with the grinding sound of stone upon stone. Before you are another set of stone double doors.   Opening the doors reveals a 30 feet by 20 feet room made from polished stone. The ceiling in this room is 10 feet high. The floor is also made of polished stone but unlike the other rooms within the tomb it does not have a layer of dust covering it.   Directly in front of you is a stone sarcophagus with bronze inlay about 7 feet by 3 feet and 3 feet tall.   Around the sides of the room you can see several sacks, four of which have burst open. From two of the sacks spill copper bits, from the other sacks spill silver drachmas, and gold staters   To the left of the sarcophagus is a wooden chest enforced with bronze.   Behind the sarcophagus you can make out a spear and hoplon shield, the bag of gold staters, a sword and scabbard, a scroll, and 2 bottles.
  There is no inscription on the sarcophagus.   The sarcophagus is the resting place of Arsene. The stone and bronze lid can be moved aside with a DC 15 Strength check.   Should this happen read the following:  
As you move the sarcophagus' lid you can see a human corpse within, it's leathery skin taught against its skeletal frame, while the smell of decay almost overwhelms you.   The corpse is clad in decaying leather armour, leather skirt, leather greaves, and corroded bronze helmet. There appears to be the sharp end of a spear protruding from its chest cavity.   Suddenly the corpses' eyes open and with a voice from the grave says, "Finally," as it attempts to lift itself out of the sarcophagus.
  Ask the players what they want to do as they might want to attack the corpse, or wait to see what happens.   If the players initiate combat, roll for initiative.   If Arsene cannot get his spear and shield he will fight as a ghoul without them.   Arsene, whether in combat or not, will pull 'himself' from the sarcophagus, read the following (perhaps amended if in combat).  
The corpse lifts itself out of the sarcophagus with the creaking and cracking of old of bones. It stands there for a brief moment staring st the spearhead in its chest, and then pulls it out of its chest cavity, dropping it on the floor with a clank. It then bends over to pick up the shield and spear, (or Arsene requests that any player in possession of the spear or shield return them to him), and stands there proudly.
  Arsene will truthfully answer any questions the players have.   If the players don't think to ask any questions, Arsene tells them the truth of his fate.  
I have been rotting here since I was betrayed by my twin brother, Hippias. I slew the Triton king, and saved my brother's life, but he deceived me and thrust his spear through me.   As I lay there dying, he mocked me, and boasted that he would claim my victory and my wife, and that he would bring up my son as his own.   My final moment on this earth was to curse my brother in the name of Nike. That I would not rest until I had my revenge and the victory that was rightfully mine.   I can see now that in his fear my brother had me caged in this room to prevent my body from rising. For over one thousand years I have wandered the banks of the Styx, in that grey soulless gloom. Neither able to take my place in the Elysian fields, or return for vengeance.   Until you opened my sarcophagus, I have only been able to visit the earth briefly as a shade of my former self. Unable to affect the mortal world, I have been reduced to trying to influence the dreams of the Harmost, but this has been limited in time and reach.   It seems that the curse did not fall upon my brother, but upon me. I cannot rest until I am recognised for my victory.
  There are three ways to end the curse and free Kyros from his nightmare, and allow Arsene to finally enter the Elysian fields.   One of the players can accept a challenge of single combat before the golden statue of the Goddess, which will be to the death. Arsene will cast his Compelled Duel spell upon the player that accepts the fight, (pick a player who hasn't drunk from the fountain in Room 3). If a player dies, Arsene will inform the party that the player can be revived at the fountain if they don't think to try this.   The players can attack and kill Arsene, the ghoul.   If the players don't kill Arsene but parlay with him, he will ask the players to inform Pavlopetri, the townsfolk and the Harmost, of the truth of Arsene and his brother. Of the betrayal, and that it was Arsene who defeated the Triton king. The tomb should be renamed after Arsene. Arsene's corpse must be reburied with full military honours, and the betrayal of his brother must be written in the chronicle.     If any of these three conditions are met, Arsene thanks the heroes if he is able to, and asks them to honour his victory. The ghoul then slumps to the floor, a lifeless corpse that can be properly buried with blessings from a priestess of Nike.  
The sarcophagus is empty.     The treasure in the room amounts to:   6 sacks contain - 600 copper bits   2 sacks contain - 200 silver drachmas   1 sack contains - 100 gold staters   a +1 hoplon shield with the device of Sparta upon it.   a +1 shortsword made of bronze.   2 light blue potions of healing in glass bottles   a 3rd level scroll of haste.  
The chest is locked and requires a DC 15 Dexterity check with (thieves' tools) to open it. It contains:   a set of clothing for a noble warrior, short toga, sandals, and belt.   a pouch of myrrh resin.   a pouch with 12 10 gp turquoise.   a 50 gp ruby.   an ebony and pearl wand of magic detection in a mahogany box.   a set of silver thieves' tools that add a +2 bonus to open locks.  
Remember, if any player takes any of this treasure and attempts to leave the tomb the bronze statue of Nike in Room 1 will animate and attack the party.   Arsene (Ghoul)
Type
Room, Secret, Chamber

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