[Gameplay] Part 1: The Lottery & Tomb of Akhentepi

Gethean nods to Tabet when he reports that the way behind is clear and turns to head that way now that the Paladin has arrived. "Glad you could join us, did you bring the crowbar you and I discussed? We could have used it on more than one occasion already. As you are the better armored fighter- I will bring up the rear with Jaware as a relay between myself and the front of the company."

Recall...

A table displaying a three-dimensional diorama occupies much of the north side of this room. Three shields with different designs are displayed upon a rack against the east wall, while various weapons hang from another rack along the south wall. Arrayed around the room are five small chests and a clay urn.

With a sculpted landscape and tiny stone and wooden statues, the diorama depicts an ancient battle between the city of Wati and an unidentified enemy. The rack to the east proudly displays three shields. The shield on the right is a light wooden shield identical to the shields carried by the soldiers in the diorama. It bears Ancient Osiriani hieroglyphs that spell the name "Akhentepi," marking those soldiers as under the command of Akhentepi. The light wooden shield on the left does not appear to be Osirian in origin, and a PC who makes a successful DC 12 Knowledge (geography) check can determine that it is similar in style to those used by (REDACTED). The center shield is unusual in that it is a light steel shield shaped like a scarab; it matches the one borne by Akhentepi in the engravings on the doors in earlier sections. The rack on the south wall holds a composite shortbow, a khopesh, and a spear—all of which belonged to Akhentepi.

As you get closer, three of the tiny dolls in the diorama sorting too life crawl down the table leg and attack!

Initiative checks please. If you beat the creatures you may act immediately in whatever order you post.

Tabat reaches back and pats his backpack. "I sure did," he replies to Gethean, "though I would hardly imagine delving into such a place without one." He offers a sly smile as they continue into the next room.

He looks around in awe, impressed by the weapons and shields on the walls. "Akhentepi truly was a great warrior," he says.

Movement catches his eye as the small figures of the nearby diorama come to life and attack them. He reels, "What manner of devilry is this!?" and draws his sword.

Bernard is brought out of his historicism as the small creatures attack.

As soon as he sees them, Bernard immediately recalls seeing these in a book somewhere.

"Ah , I recall reading about these. I understand that fire is most effective against them"Wanting to preserve his spells against such small enemies, Bernard would then attempt to hit one with his crossbow.

Jaware attacks one of the Dolls using Ranged Spell Combat to shoot a Arrow (with deadly aim) and cast acid splash against it.

Iseret reacts immediately, drawing her shortsword and attacking the nearest figure.

Khadi immeadiatly goes to look at the diorama as they enter the room, studying it, at first unaware of the moving soldiers.

Bernard suspects that:
Bernard's crossbow misses, skidding along the floor and bouncing off a wall.

Still need initiative rolls from Tabat and Gethean.

Order
25 Bernard
...(We are here)
21 Dolls
15 Jaware
14 Khadi
11 Iseret
?? TBD: Tabat and Gethean
?? Esmae

Tabat lashes forward, drawing his longsword in a seamless motion, and slashes at the nearest of the diminutive figures.

Gethean hears the commotion and turns to see the dolls? scurrying down the table and attacking, he scrambles to place himself between the squishy two of the party and the dolls before he swings.

Gethean and Tabat both rush in, flanking the tiny creatures and while Tabat hits, his blade only does 1 damage (Hardness 5). Gethean can't quite hit the tiny dolls, and his blade sparks off the stone floor.

The dolls retaliate, targeting their two melee attackers... at Tabat is hit by the improbably strong creature for 2 hit points damage.

Jaware's longbow shots both miss, and Iseret connects with a blow, but does no damage to the hard creature.

Order
30 Gethean
25 Bernard
22 Tabat
21 Dolls
15 Jaware
...(We are here)
14 Khadi
11 Iseret
?? Esmae[/quote]

Tabat lets out a grunt of frustration as the doll pricks him, drawing blood. He kicks it off him and focuses instead on the doll that attacked Gethean, stepping forward and putting all his might into an overhead hack into the creature.

'Oh Osiris' The sudden sounds of the others hitting, or attempting to hit the statues gets Khadi;s attention as she scrabbles for her crossbow andd fires a shot at the one harassing Tabat.

"I dont like fighting little things, sometime I forget to aim lower!" Gethean swings at the doll again and almost decapitates it.

Combat is over.

Khadi, trying not to shoot her companions in their collective or individual butts, misses any target.

Gethean's blade destroys one of the dolls, followed quickly by Tabat's crushing blow destroying the other.

Tabat looks around, making sure nothing else appears to be moving that shouldn't be, then straightens himself before sheathing his sword. He kicks at one of the lifeless dolls and grunts, "Huh. Not very effective guardians." He walk around to examine the items in the room, stopping at the scarab-shaped shield to look at it closely. "I think I saw a mural of the departed King taking this same shield to battle."