Bubastis to Basra, and everything in between
Having cleared up our business in Bubastis, we head south in search of a cure for Harald's space aids. Rameses II, the Great, after charging a rather high price for an audience, says he will gladly cure Harald, as long as we can return a similarly difficult favor. He suggests we conquer the Levant in his name, as he's always really wanted to conquer the Levant. We thank him and head off, adding that to our list of things to do when we become demi-gods.
We then follow the rumors and the advice of some old stones to a tomb in Geb. We are warned by the villagers that to enter will be the death of us, which usually means it's a good idea, so in we go. After a harrowing fight with three nasty mummies, we go running back out to prepare. God tells us that going back will probably turn out well, as long as we don't rest inside the tomb. We head back on in, defeat the mummies, and come to a room filled to the brim with snakes. We control temperature to bring them to a torpid state, then start emptying them out into a pit trap we found on our way in. We eventually clear enough of the room to reveal a big lead box in the back. As we enter, a giant snake claiming to be Nectanebus comes and bars our way. We kill him, but he swiftly springs back to life. After several frustrating attempts we split into a snake-killing squad and a box-opening squad. We barely avoid having the eyes melted out of our faces, and are able to retrieve a very old fancy book from the box.
As we leave, we are assailed by all kinds of nasty creatures, including a creepy black goat and the ever-regenerating snake. Fearing for his life and our hard-earned treasure, Harald, after doing his utmost to save the party, succor-stick's his way out of there back to spain. The rest of the party gets out of there as fast as they can, hops on the boat, and heads back up-river.
After ensuring that Harald is indeed safe, and not just disintegrated by the nasty goat, we decide to head off to Basra. We make the best time ever, aided by Ailyll's weather spells.
In Basra we are attacked by three women who accuse us of being Mandians, come to slay Jamilla the beautiful. A call lighting and a hold person make quick work of them, and we are able to convince them that we are not in fact Mandian assassins. They apologize and bring us back to their headquarters for further explanations. They are taken to the headquarters of the Brotherhood of Purity where Ailyll recognizes her old friend Gayick. We are welcomed warmly and receive effusive apologies for the earlier attack. We learn (all sorts of stuff) about the happenings in Basra and about the encyclopedic efforts of the Brotherhood of Purity. In return for their hospitality, we go upriver to convince the Rat King to join their leadership, replacing their wayward fourth member. We run into some mind-controlling leather-armed jerks on the way, but we sink their ship and steal a bunch of gold and wine from them, so all is good.
We come to a ziggurat where the Rat King is supposed to live, and find it filled with swarms of eyeless people. It takes us a few tries to clear them out, plus we run into the leather people again, but we eventually make it up to the abode of the Rat King. He is "of two minds" on the subject, one of which attacks us rather viciously. We help him make up his minds, and all return happily to Basra.
