[Gameplay] 3. The Sanctum

The original founder and first high priest of the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye was laid to rest in this tomb. The hieroglyphs on the walls name him Djedihepet, and reveal that he died in –1599 ar. He is described as "a wise counselor, trusted keeper of secrets, and good friend of the Pharaoh." Inside the sarcophagus, the mummy of Djedihepet is laid to rest next to a mummified rat, his familiar in life. The clay canopic jars are sealed with wax, but if opened, they contain only Djedihepet’s desiccated and preserved internal organs.

Iseret and Khadi find a hidden button near the head of the sarcophagus. Pressing the button will cause the platform under the sarcophagus to slide to the south on a set of concealed tracks, revealing a secret opening beneath it. This is what is trapped.

'....Okay so does anyone have a very long stick? Of Iserte can try and hit this button from a distance? We can hope we're out of the range of the spell ?'

"Hmm," Tabat says. "I would not ask anyone else to do this, if I were not willing to do it myself. Everyone stand out of the room - I will trigger the trap myself and, er, run away. As quickly as I can. If the rest of you are sufficient distance away, at least it is only myself being risked. And Khadi, Kepri will see in my heart that I do not hope or intend to suffer harm this way - I only hope I am quick enough."

Unless there is argument against this, he will do as said once everyone else is in the clear. He will use the magical spear found earlier, if possible, to do this with some range.

Care to make a reflex save, Tabat?

The Glyph of Blasting only does damage in a 5' area, so you're undamaged. The magic spear, with your save, is not destroyed either.

Djedihepet’s mummy wears a simple onyx funerary mask worth 20 gp and a gold and black-enameled holy symbol of Nethys worth 50 gp.

The secret compartment under the sarcophagus contains a pearl of power and a magic ring.

"HAH!" Tabat shouts as he skitters backward, not only saving his hide, but the magic spear as well. "Too slow, trap."

He takes up the items and looks closely at the pearl and ring, storing them all except the pearl. Once they realize what it is, he hands it to Khadi for safe keeping. "Safe keeping, for keeping us safe," he says, a gentle smile under his mask that can be heard in his voice, if not seen.

"Shall we head back to that northern room?"

If there are no disagreements, he leads them to the door north of where they fought the followers of Nethys.

The northern doors open easily (after a thorough review by your trapfinders). Idorii prepares herself for sudden combat as the doors swing open, and Jaware covers from the back.

A large silver summoning circle is inlaid in the floor tiles near the center of this octagonal chamber. In the northeast corner of the room, a set of narrow steps leads up to a raised dais. A concave stone bench, almost a throne, perches atop the dais, flanked by two bronze braziers. Four columns carved in the form of fantastic creatures support the room’s vaulted ceiling.

The columns in the room are incredible examples of ancient sculpture. The column to the northeast depicts a beautiful, hawk-winged, succubuslike woman, while the southeast column is fashioned in the form of a feminine figure of billowing smoke or clouds crackling with electricity. The northwest column portrays a half-skeletal spellcaster of some kind, and the column to the southwest resembles a winged, angelic creature wearing a metallic mask.

"What is this place, some sort of summoning circle?" Tabat asks, looking around, worried. He doesn't like this.

As Tabat watches the area, he notices a slight movement from the eyes of the two statues. They are alive!

'Could be. These statues, they are all servants of Nethys... so we should be wary of what could come out that circle.' The cleric keeps speaking as she points at each statue in turns . 'Yamasha with the wing, a conjurer, and enchantress. This is not a skelteon, but the lich Tarakal. Nethsy cares only for magic, not whether those pursue it are undead or not. This is Bard an trumpet archon. .. She poit at the angelic statue before landing on the cloud. ' And this.. the Arcanotheign. His herald. I doubt the circle would be so strong as to bring it forth but that such servants are depicted here, we should be careful in this room.'

She steps forward to study the circle, unware of any danger that is about to occur.

As soon as Khadi enters the room, the two statues animate and strike. Initiative Order: Tabat, Jaware, Statues, Khadi, Iseret, Idorii

"Watch out!" Tabat shouts, tossing down his khopesh, passing healing energy through his body, and drawing his heavy adamantine flail. He moves forward to get in front of Khadi and attacks the nearest of the moving statutes.

Tabat hits the creature hard, and stone bits fly free. The blow is jarring and without the incredible hardness of the flail, it would surely have been damaged.

Jaware fires two arrows at Yamasha, delivering a spell with the second. The arrows shatter but do a little damage.

DR 5/-, AC 14
Yamasha: 14 damage
Arcanotheign: 0 damage

The statues attack Tabat who is now in front, their stone longswords slashing with strength and power.

They miss Tabat.

Khadi and Iseret are up, then.Idorii. I'll act for Iseret if WhtKnt isn't back online.

It is all that Iseret can do to gather her wits. She quickly finds her place behind Tabat's foe and carefully chooses her striking point.

Tabat readies for another attack, watching in awe as Iseret seems to find the weakest part of the construct's form, dealing a devastatingly impressive blow.

The duskwalker lets out a noise of surprise, and them a string of curses as she scrabbles for her crossbow loosing a bolt at the most damaged statue even while staggering back.